Cognitive Distortions of Gambling Addicts and Healthy Control, Their Psychopathology and Comparison of Family Relationship

Abstract

Gambling addiction is a repetitive behaviour with a desire to earn more, even if the result is negative. In this study, it is aimed to examine Gambling addicts’ cognitive distortions, psychopathologies and family relationships. In 2021, between 18 and 60 age, gambling addicts and non-gambling individuals voluntarily participating in their search were selected by convenient sampling method and 525 people formed the study group of the research. Family Assessment Scale (FAS), Cognitive Distortions Scale (CDS), South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) -Anxiety, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) - Depression and cognitive information form prepared by the researcher were applied to the sample group. The rate of individuals with gambling problems being male, aged 30 and over, being married, being a primary school graduate, working and having gamblers in the family were found to be higher than individuals without gambling problems. A positive and significant correlation was found between gambling addicts’ Family Assessment Scale scores and Cognitive Distortions Scale scores and BSI-Anxiety, BSI-Depression scores. According to the results of this study, it can be said that the psychopathological approach is one of the effective intervention methods in the pathological gambling problem, but in future studies, it is recommended to create an individual intervention plan, taking into account the characteristics of the client, as well as based on the psychopathological approach.