Mindfulness and impulsive urgency are related but not interacting predictors of disordered gambling

Abstract

Research suggests that emotion regulation problems are involved in disordered gambling. A cross-sectional correlational study of 296 Australian community gamblers investigated trait mindfulness as a protective factor for emotionally impulsive gamblers. Moderated regression revealed that gender, and positive and negative urgency predicted problem gambling and gambling frequency. Mindfulness did not moderate the urgency/problem gambling or urgency/gambling frequency pathways. While causal inferences cannot be inferred, we suggest that the inability to regulate extreme positive mood states is significantly involved in disordered gambling. The role of mindfulness in these processes remains unclear and requires further research using multidimensional measures of mindfulness.