Abstract
Background and aims: Increases in the prevalence of behavioral addictions worldwide have led to a growth in the etiological research of the specific contribution of risk/protective factors to these disorders. The objective of this study was to assess the relative role of patients' sex, age of disorder onset and disorder duration on the clinical profile of behavioral addictions.Methods: Our sample included treatment-seeking patients diagnosed with gambling disorder (GD, n = 3,174), internet gambling disorder (IGD, n = 45), compulsive buying (CB, n = 113), and sex addiction (SA, n = 34).Results: The pattern of associations between the independent variables and the outcomes were strongly related to the behavioral addiction subtype: (a) for GD-men early onset of the disorder was related to GD severity, while for GD-women early onset was linked to novelty seeking; (b) for IGD-men, late onset correlated with addiction severity, worse psychopathological state, and high harm avoidance and self-transcendence levels; (c) for CB-women, early onset was related to higher reward-dependence scores and lower self-transcendence levels, and longer duration predicted higher cumulate debts; for CB-men, early onset and long duration correlated with high scores in harm-avoidance, self-directedness, self-transcendence, and cooperativeness; and (d) for SA-men, late onset and longer duration correlated with high disorder severity.Discussion and Conclusions: These findings are relevant for developing prevention and treatment programs specific to different behavioral addictions.
Highlights
Behavioral addictions include a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by a compulsion to engage in a short-term rewarding, non-substance-related behavior that may engender persistence despite knowledge of severe adverse consequences [1,2,3]
The pattern of associations between the independent variables and the outcomes were strongly related to the behavioral addiction subtype: (a) for gambling disorder (GD)-men early onset of the disorder was related to GD severity, while for GD-women early onset was linked to novelty seeking; (b) for internet gaming disorder (IGD)-men, late onset correlated with addiction severity, worse psychopathological state, and high harm avoidance and self-transcendence levels; (c) for compulsive buying (CB)-women, early onset was related to higher reward-dependence scores and lower self-transcendence levels, and longer duration predicted higher cumulate debts; for CB-men, early onset and long duration correlated with high scores in harm-avoidance, self-directedness, self-transcendence, and cooperativeness; and (d) for sex addiction (SA)-men, late onset and longer duration correlated with high disorder severity
These findings are relevant for developing prevention and treatment programs specific to different behavioral addictions
Summary
Behavioral addictions include a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by a compulsion to engage in a short-term rewarding, non-substance-related behavior that may engender persistence despite knowledge of severe adverse consequences [1,2,3]. In the early stages of the condition, high levels of impulsivity are aimed at obtaining immediate reward (positive reinforcement), but during the course of the condition, the addictive behavior becomes compulsive and is aimed at decreasing negative emotional states (negative reinforcement) [6]. Within this line of research, it has been argued that dimensional and transdiagnosis classifications could better explain the overlap of symptoms and shared clinical features in all these conditions, comorbidity, and even response to treatment [2]. The objective of this study was to assess the relative role of patients’ sex, age of disorder onset and disorder duration on the clinical profile of behavioral addictions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
