title: Depressive Symptoms and Gambling Behavior: Mediating Role of Coping Motivation and Gambling Refusal Self-Efficacy.
abstract: Understanding the variables that contribute to the comorbidity of depression and gambling behaviors is important in developing effective intervention strategies for those who experience gambling-related problems. The purpose of this study was to implement core concepts from Jacob's general theory of addiction and the social cognitive theory in a multiple mediation model. Specifically, we tested two models to examine whether coping motivation and refusal self-efficacy mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms, gambling related problems, and days gambled. Data was collected from 333 undergraduate students at a large public Midwest university, participating in a larger clinical trial. Analyses indicated a direct effect between depressive symptoms and gambling related problems. Depressive symptoms were found to have a significant indirect effect through coping motivation and gambling refusal self-efficacy on gambling related problems and days gambled. These results provide further support regarding the mechanisms through which depressive symptoms may increase risk for problematic gambling behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri, 16 Hill Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. skt8d3@mail.missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri, 16 Hill Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls, Room 4305, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Brooke J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Arterberry
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: College students; Coping motivation; Depressive symptoms; Gambling; Refusal self-efficacy