More than fun and games: Problematic sports betting and its adverse impact on mental health and well-being in young adults

Abstract

BackgroundThe rapid rise in sports betting, especially among young adults (age 18–29), necessitates identifying health correlates of this addictive behavior. The present study examined associations between problem sports betting symptoms and mental health and well-being, which represents a timely literature gap. MethodThe sample was 221 young adult sport bettors from 36 different states (Mage = 24.4, 77.7% male). Regression models estimated associations between problem sports betting severity (PGSI-SB) and symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, loneliness, and stress, as well as indices of well-being, including satisfaction with life, optimism, connectedness, and social functioning. ResultsYoung adults with greater problem sports betting severity had significantly higher scores on each index of mental health symptomology and had poorer indices of well-being. The strongest relative effect size was the association between problem sports betting severity and stress (a 1SD increase in PGSI-SB score corresponded to 48% of a standard deviation increase in stress). ConclusionsThis study provides novel and timely evidence for associations between problem sports betting and various indices of mental health and well-being; thus, highlighting the need for rapid development of holistic prevention/intervention strategies aimed at the intersection of problem sports betting and mental health.