This study aimed to examine the parallel multiple mediation effects of cognitive emotion regulation strategies(maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies) and the moderation and moderated mediation effects of cognitive flexibility on the r...
This study aimed to examine the parallel multiple mediation effects of cognitive emotion regulation strategies(maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies) and the moderation and moderated mediation effects of cognitive flexibility on the relationship between reward sensitivity and gambling addiction tendencies. The study was conducted through a self-report survey targeting 250 early adults who had experienced gambling at least once in their lifetime. The results of the study are as follows:
First, the indirect effects of reward sensitivity on gambling addiction tendency though both maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies were confirmed, suggesting that reward sensitivity influences the emotion regulation system by activating both risk and protective pathways. Second, cognitive flexibility moderated the effect of adaptive emotion regulation strategies on gambling addiction tendency, although no moderated mediation effect was observed. In contrast, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies showed a significant moderated mediation effect depending on the level of cognitive flexibility, indicating that cognitive flexibility operates differently across emotion regulation strategies. Third, lower cognitive flexibility was associated with stronger gambling addiction tendencies in the maladaptive mediation pathway, whereas higher cognitive flexibility functioned as a protective factor by buffering this risk pathway. Overall, these findings enhance understanding of psychological mechanisms underlying gambling problems in early adulthood and underscore the importance of integrated emotional and cognitive interventions in gambling addiction prevention and treatment.