Examining the Relationship Between Gambling Tendency and Metacognitive and Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Gamblers

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between metacognitive beliefs, difficulties in emotion regulation, and gambling tendency among individuals who engage in gambling, as well as to determine the extent to which these psychological variables predict gambling tendency. A quantitative correlational research design was employed. The study sample consisted of 130 adults (12 women and 118 men), aged 18–55 years, residing in Nicosia and Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), who were recruited using a non-probability purposive sampling method. Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form developed by the researchers, the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the Near-Miss Scale (NMS), the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. The findings indicated that 33% of the participants exhibited problematic gambling behavior. Significant associations were also found between metacognitive beliefs, difficulties in emotion regulation, and gambling tendency. Regression analyses revealed that the cognitive confidence subscale of the MCQ-30 significantly and negatively predicted gambling severity, whereas the nonacceptance and limited access to emotion regulation strategies subscales of the DERS significantly and positively predicted gambling severity. Furthermore, the total DERS score significantly and positively predicted gambling tendency. These findings suggest that metacognitive processes and difficulties in emotion regulation constitute important psychological mechanisms underlying gambling tendency and gambling disorder. In particular, addressing maladaptive metacognitive beliefs together with dysfunctional emotion regulation processes may contribute to the development of more effective prevention and intervention programs for problematic gambling. Accordingly, psychological interventions focusing on metacognitive restructuring and the enhancement of adaptive emotion regulation skills may facilitate the prevention and treatment of gambling disorder.