Problem gambling in the crypto era: A study of gambling motivations and cognitive distortions amongst cryptocurrency traders

IF 3.9 3区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Public Health Pub Date : 2025-05-02 DOI:10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105741

T. Xu , J.B. Grubbs , S.W. Kraus

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

The rise of cryptocurrency trading has sparked global interest and raised concerns about its potential links to problematic gambling behaviours. This study examined the prevalence of problematic gambling amongst cryptocurrency traders and identified psychological predictors, focusing on gambling motivations and cognitive distortions.

Study design

Cross-sectional survey study using YouGov Opinion Polling's sample-matching methodology.

Methods

A sample of 700 cryptocurrency traders was drawn from a larger behavioural addiction project (N = 4363). Participants completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), Gambling Motives Questionnaire-Financial (GMQ-F), and Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS). Analyses included chi-square tests, one-way ANOVAs with Tukey's post-hoc tests, and multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Problematic gambling was identified in 33.7 % of traders, with 33.9 % classified as at-risk gambling and 32.4 % as non-problematic gambling. Enhancement motivation (OR = 1.60, 95 % CI [1.10, 2.34]) and interpretative bias (OR = 1.38, 95 % CI [1.06, 1.81]) positively predicted at-risk gambling, whereas social motivation showed protective effects (OR = 0.61, 95 % CI [0.41, 0.91]). Coping motivation strongly predicted problematic gambling (OR = 4.47, 95 % CI [2.28, 8.78]), as did inability to stop gambling (OR = 3.18, 95 % CI [2.22, 4.54]). Age was negatively associated with problematic gambling (OR = 0.94, 95 % CI [0.91, 0.97]).

Conclusions

Findings reveal high rates of problematic gambling amongst cryptocurrency traders, with distinct motivational and cognitive predictors at different risk levels. Results suggest the need for targeted educational programmes and intervention strategies tailored to address specific risk factors.

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加密时代的问题赌博：加密货币交易者的赌博动机和认知扭曲的研究

加密货币交易的兴起引发了全球的兴趣，并引发了人们对其与有问题的赌博行为的潜在联系的担忧。这项研究调查了加密货币交易者中有问题的赌博的普遍性，并确定了心理预测因素，重点关注赌博动机和认知扭曲。研究设计采用YouGov民意调查的样本匹配方法进行横断面调查研究。方法从一个更大的行为成瘾项目（N = 4363）中抽取700名加密货币交易者的样本。参与者完成了问题赌博严重程度指数（PGSI）、赌博动机财务问卷（GMQ-F）和赌博相关认知量表（GRCS）。分析包括卡方检验、Tukey事后检验的单因素方差分析和多项逻辑回归。结果33.7%的交易者存在赌博问题，其中33.9%被归类为有风险赌博，32.4%被归类为无问题赌博。增强动机（OR = 1.60, 95% CI[1.10, 2.34]）和解释偏见（OR = 1.38, 95% CI[1.06, 1.81]）积极预测赌博风险，而社会动机表现出保护作用（OR = 0.61, 95% CI[0.41, 0.91]）。应对动机强烈预测赌博问题（OR = 4.47, 95% CI[2.28, 8.78]），无法停止赌博（OR = 3.18, 95% CI[2.22, 4.54]）。年龄与赌博问题呈负相关（OR = 0.94, 95% CI[0.91, 0.97]）。研究结果显示，加密货币交易者中有问题的赌博率很高，在不同的风险水平上具有不同的动机和认知预测因素。结果表明，需要针对特定的风险因素制定针对性的教育计划和干预策略。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Public Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

280

审稿时长

37 days

期刊介绍： Public Health is an international, multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal. It publishes original papers, reviews and short reports on all aspects of the science, philosophy, and practice of public health.