Perceived burdensomeness partially mediates the longitudinal relationship between problem gambling and suicidal ideation.

Problem gambling is reliably linked with increased risk for suicidality. Research guided by the interpersonal theory of suicide suggests that two painful forms of social disconnection often associated with problem gambling - perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness - help explain increased risk for suicide ideation. Specifically, perceived burdensomeness appears to mediate the relationship between problem gambling and suicidal ideation, especially at high levels of thwarted belongingness. Looking "upstream," debt stress appears to link problem gambling to perceived burdensomeness. The current study is a longitudinal study of this phenomenon using a sample (N = 447) of highly-involved gamblers recruited from the MTurk platform. Using a 6-month timeframe, we found evidence of partial longitudinal mediation of problem gambling and suicidal ideation via perceived burdensomeness. Contrary to our hypothesis, problem gambling severity at Time 1 failed to predict debt stress at Time 2. Finally, we found evidence of a bidirectional relationship between problem gambling and suicide ideation, in that suicide ideation at Time 1 predicted problem gambling at Time 2. Clinical implications include the need to routinely screen for suicidality and perceived burdensomeness within problem gambling treatment. Future research should explore interventions that target perceived burdensomeness in this context.