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. 2023 Dec;39(4):1815-1832.
doi: 10.1007/s10899-023-10251-w. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Looking at Sex Differences in Gambling Disorder: The Predictive Role of the Early Abandonment Schema, Gambling Motives and Alexithymia in Depression

Ana Estévez  1 , Laura Macía  2 , Patricia Macía  3
Affiliations

Looking at Sex Differences in Gambling Disorder: The Predictive Role of the Early Abandonment Schema, Gambling Motives and Alexithymia in Depression

Ana Estévez et al. J Gambl Stud. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

A growing body of research indicates differences between men and women with gambling disorder. However, although alexithymia, gambling motives or abandonment have been associated with GD, women's clinical profile remains unexplored. This study aims, firstly, to explore mean differences in gambling motives (i.e. enhancement, coping and social [SOC]), the early maladaptive abandonment schema, alexithymia and depression in women and men with GD. Secondly, to analyse the correlation between the aforementioned variables as a function of sex. Thirdly, to examine the predictive role of gambling motives, early abandonment schema and alexithymia in depression as a function of sex. Lastly, to analyse the mediating role of COP between the early maladaptive abandonment schema and depression in women with GD, and the mediating role of ENH and the early maladaptive abandonment schema between alexithymia and depression in men with GD. The sample comprised 108 adults with GD diagnosis, of whom 60 were women and 48 were men. Regression and mediation analyses were carried out to explore possible sex differences in GD, through the SPSS programme. Results showed that depressive symptoms are predicted by alexithymia in men with GD and by the early maladaptive abandonment schema in women with GD. Regarding mediation analyses, the results suggest that COP mediated the relationship between early abandonment schema and depressive symptoms in females; and ENH and abandonment schema mediated the relationship between alexithymia and depressive symptoms in males. These results provide evidence of the relevance of considering sex differences when establishing therapeutic strategies in GD rehabilitation.

Keywords: Abandonment; Alexithymia; Depression; Gambling; Gambling motives; Women.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no conflicts of interest or financial interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mediation model of coping movies between the abandonment schema in depression in women with gambling disorder. Note **p > 0.001, *p > 0.05
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mediation model of enhance motives between alexithymia in depression in men with gambling disorder. Note **p > 0.001, *p > 0.05
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mediation model of the abandonment schema between alexithymia oi depression in men with gambling disorder. Note **p > 0.001, *p > 0.05
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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