Predictive Role of Attachment, Coping, and Emotion Regulation in Gambling Motives of Adolescents and Young People.

Gambling disorder may be linked with different gambling motives such as enhancement, social, and coping motives, and vulnerability factors such as attachment, emotion regulation and coping. The aim of this study was to measure the link between gambling motives and vulnerability factors in adolescents. The sample comprised 472 students recruited from high schools and vocational education centers (mean age 15.6, SD = 1.33). Gambling motives, gambling severity, parent and peer attachment, coping strategies, and difficulties in emotion regulation were assessed. The results showed that parent and peer attachment correlated with gambling motives (enhancement, social, and coping), whereas parent attachment predicted gambling motives. Difficulties of emotion regulation correlated with gambling motives, with lack of control standing out as the most significant predictor. Coping strategies also correlated with gambling motives, and maladaptive strategies predicted gambling motives. Additionally, gambling motives correlated with gambling severity, with coping and enhancement motives as predictors of gambling severity. Moreover, boys reported more enhancement motives and gambling severity than girls. Finally, difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the relationship between gambling motives and gambling severity. These results may be useful for prevention and intervention in gambling disorder in adolescents and young people.