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Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying Gambling Behaviour and Sleep

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Abstract

Problem gambling and sleep difficulty threaten health. Using the basis of self-regulatory theory, potential mechanisms for these problems were investigated. Fifty-nine treatment-seeking gamblers completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (sleep difficulty), the Sleep Hygiene Index (negative sleep habits), the Problem Gambling Severity Index and measures of self-regulatory capacity and arousability with data entered into regression analyses. Results supported the relationship between problem gambling and greater sleep difficulty (β = .18, t = 3.22, p < .01). Self-regulatory capacity mediated the relationship between problem gambling and sleep difficulty (R 2 change = .15, F(2, 57) = 12.14, β = −.45, t = −3.45, p < .001) as well as between problem gambling and negative sleep habits; R 2 change = .17, F(2, 57) = 13.57, β = −.28, t = −3.76, p < .001. Arousability predicted sleep difficulty (β = .15, t = 3.07, p < .01) and negative sleep habits (β = .40, t = 5.40, p < .01) but showed no relationship with problem gambling (r = .09, ns). Self-regulatory capacity represents an important mediator of the relationship between problem gambling and sleep-related behaviour and if targeted could reduce behavioural threats to health.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Global Public Health research strength at Monash University Malaysia for granting the seed funding that facilitated this study. We are also grateful to the following people who assisted with the translation of the questionnaires and/or data collection and data cleaning: Dr. Ng Yin Lu, Mr. Kelvin Tong Yip Weng, Ms. Ding Xian Teo, Mr. Chen Shin Yeong.

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Correspondence to Marisa H. Loft.

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Loft, M.H., Loo, J.M.Y. Understanding the Mechanisms Underlying Gambling Behaviour and Sleep. J Gambl Stud 31, 1273–1286 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-014-9514-x

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