Pathological gamblers profiles according to impulsivity and emotional regulation

This study aims to examine relationship between age, gambling behaviour, dysfunctional psychological symptoms, and other comorbid addictive behaviours. Secondly, it aims to study the differences between the aforementioned variables according to gambler profiles based on impulsivity and emotional regulation. A sample of 95 participants conformed the clinical sample (93.5% men and 6.5% women). Results suggest that difficulties in emotion regulation and impulsivity are associated with gambling disorder, video game abuse, and dysfunctional psychological symptomatology. Likewise, two clusters have been observed, the first one is composed of participants with fewer difficulties in emotion regulation, less psychopathological severity, and greater impulsivity. The second cluster is composed of participants with greater difficulties in emotion regulation, as well as greater psychopathological and gambling severity. These results highlight the relevance of understanding different gambler profiles in order to design prevention and treatment strategies adapted to each person.