Yasemin DOĞAN, Hatice DEMİRBAŞ
Addicta The Turkish Journal On Addictions - 2026;13(3):408-418
This study aimed to examine the associations between gambling behavior, depression, difficulties in emotion regulation, and impulsivity in young adults. The sample consisted of 310 individuals aged 18-35, including 105 participants who reported engaging in gambling activities and 205 non-gamblers. Data were collected using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Short Form (DERS-SF), and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11). Independent-samples t tests, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted for the statistical analysis. The results indicated that gender, education level, marital status, monthly income level, the Goals subscale of the DERS, total BIS-11 score, and the Attentional and Motor Impulsivity subscales significantly predicted gambling behavior. Compared with non-gamblers, individuals who gambled exhibited significantly higher levels of total impulsivity, attentional impulsivity, and motor impulsivity, whereas scores on the Goals subscale of the DERS were significantly lower. Logistic regression analyses further demonstrated that attentional and motor impulsivity were significant predictors of gambling behavior, whereas depressive symptoms and other emotion regulation subscales did not show significant predictive value. Male gender emerged as a prominent risk factor for gambling behavior. The inclusion of young individuals from a non-clinical, community-based sample distinguishes this study from the existing literature. Within the context of the studied sample, the findings highlight the relevance of impulsive traits and difficulties in emotion regulation, particularly among individuals with lower income levels, in relation to gambling-related risk among young adults.
