Perfectionism Predicts Disordered Gambling Via Financially Focused Self-Concept

Abstract

Perfectionism has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders, including eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and depression. In the current research, we extended the analysis of perfectionism to understand disordered gambling. Unlike other life domains in which people with perfectionistic tendencies can objectively control outcomes (e.g., dieting to control one's body shape or weight in eating disorders), perfectionism in the gambling context is unique because there is little to no objective control over gambling outcomes (i.e., winning money). We hypothesized that gamblers with perfectionistic tendencies may set themselves a high standard within the financial success domain, which would manifest in more severe disordered gambling symptoms. We also hypothesized that having a self-concept that is focused on financial success would mediate the relation between perfectionistic tendencies and disordered gambling severity. To test this mediation model, we asked a community sample of gamblers (n = 258) to complete measures that assessed perfectionistic tendencies, financially focused self-concept, and disordered gambling severity. In line with expectations, there was a moderate positive relation between perfectionistic tendencies and disordered gambling severity, which was further mediated by financially focused self-concept. These findings suggest that perfectionistic tendencies among gamblers are associated with disordered gambling because such tendencies result in a self-concept that is focused on financial success. The findings also suggest that targeting gamblers' perfectionistic tendencies in prevention and treatment interventions may be instrumental in alleviating their financial focus, which would help curtail the development and maintenance of disordered gambling.Keywords: perfectionism, self-concept, disordered gambling, money RésuméOn a établi que le perfectionnisme entrait en ligne de compte dans plusieurs troubles psychiatriques, entre autres les troubles de l'alimentation, les troubles anxieux et la

Financially Focused Self-Concept is Associated with Etiological and Maintenance Factors of Gambling Disorder Among Non-Problem Gamblers

“…These results complement research showing that financially focused gamblers are more likely to have gambling problems, to feel financially deprived, to have low global self-esteem, and to delay-discount monetary rewards, as well as to be more materialistic, neurotic, and perfectionistic and less conscientious and extraverted (Tabri, Shead, & Wohl, 2017;Tabri, Werner, Milyavskaya, & Wohl, 2018;.…”

Financially focused self-concept: Measurement invariance, stability, and concurrent validity

“…Unfortunately, gambling for financial gain is a well-established predictor of disordered gambling (e.g., Clarke et al, 2006;Hahn, Wilson, McRae, & Gilbert, 2013;Lister, Nower, & Wohl, 2016;MacLaren, Ellery, & Knoll, 2015;Tabri et al, 2015). Players who are high in financial focus are therefore at heightened risk for disordered gambling compared to players low in financial focus (Tabri et al, 2019;Tabri, Salmon, et al, in press;Tabri, Shead et al, 2017;Tabri, Werner et al, 2018;.…”

“…Another reason for the association between a financially focused self-concept and disordered gambling is because those who are more financially focused tend to have etiological risk factors of gambling disorder compared to those who are less financially focused (Tabri, Salmon et al, in press;Tabri, Werner et al, 2018;. For example, among players without gambling problems, showed that having a financial focus was moderately and positively associated with etiological risk factors for disordered gambling, including erroneous gambling beliefs, financial dissatisfaction, low perceived selfefficacy to cope with life adversity, and impulsivity.…”

Maladaptive Perfectionism and Internet Addiction among Chinese College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Depression and Gender

“…Such maladaptive perfectionism has been linked to many negative outcomes, one of which is addictive behavior. Previous research has identified the predictive effect of maladaptive perfectionism on various forms of addictive behaviors, such as alcohol problems [ 17 ], disordered gambling [ 18 ], exercise addiction [ 19 ], and work addiction [ 20 ].…”