Role of sports qualification and gender in propensity for development of gambling addiction in students

Objective. To identify the role of athletic qualification and gender in propensity for pathological gambling in young people in Belarusian population, as well as to assess the potential of sports activities as a protective factor against gambling addiction.

Materials and methods. The study compared the propensity for pathological gambling in student athletes (n=499) and non-athlete students (n=352) using the modified Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann – Whitney U test to compare group medians. Additionally, athletes were stratified by sports qualification level, and gender-balanced subsamples were constructed to control for gender imbalance.

Results. It was concluded that male participants in both groups demonstrated significantly higher gambling propensity scores compared to females. Significant differences were identified between young males from different groups (p=0.0028), whereas no such difference was found among young females (p=0.4459). The key role of gender factor rather than sport activity per se, was demonstrated (p<0.0001). At the same time, an internal gradient was identified in the group of athletes: the higher the sports category, the lower the manifestation of gambling addiction (p < 0.0001), which make it possible to suggest a compensatory effect of intensive and structured training or psychological satisfaction with the results of sports achievements.

Conclusion. The study revealed that males prove higher levels of gambling propensity than females. While no statistically significant difference was found between female athletes and non-athlete females, male non-athlete students showed significantly greater gambling propensity than male athletes.

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