The Role of Attachment in Gambling Behaviors and Gambling Disorder: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In recent years, a growing number of attachment-based studies have contributed to the understanding of both substance and behavioral addictions. Although gambling is a form of addictive behavior widespread all over the world, both among young people and adults, the evidence on the association between attachment-related phenomena and gambling has not yet been systematized in literature. The aim of the present study, therefore, is to provide a systematic literature review aimed at summarizing the empirical evidence on this topic. Following the updated 2020 PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in four electronic scientific databases (Scopus, PubMed, PsycInfo and Web of Science) was conducted. After removing duplicates, 146 records were double-screened, with 12 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Additionally, by means of a backward search a further article was selected. Altogether, 13 articles were selected for the present systematic review. With few exceptions, the results underline the significant role played by attachment-related phenomena in gambling behaviors, highlighting that specific attachment contexts have a different influence on gambling, also depending on whether gamblers are youths or adults. In particular, while secure attachment has proven to be a protective factor for the onset of gambling behavior, insecure attachment has emerged to be a vulnerability factor in two ways. On the one hand, it directly favors gambling behaviors; on the other, it affects coping strategies and the individual’s ability to identify and regulate emotions, which in turn predict gambling. Limitations, strengths, and implications of the present systematic review are discussed.

Problematic Media Use among Children up to the Age of 10: A Systematic Literature Review

“…As in a recent review focused on adolescent and young adult samples [31], this review highlighted the importance of focusing attention on the risk and protective factors at both individual and contextual level associated with children's PMU since it might lead to several negative consequences for their health and psychosocial well-being [82,83,93,96]. In line with previous studies which proved the pivotal role of the quality of the family environment and parent-child relationship in the development and maintenance of various problematic and addictive behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood [125][126][127][128], findings of the present review have highlighted that children's PMU might be often fostered by a dysfunctional family context and adverse parent-child relational experiences [58,67,70,76,81,85], and worse individual psychological symptoms [63][64][65]68,75,82,85,88,91,92]. Probably, as seen in other studies based on samples of adults, young adults, and adolescents [129][130][131][132][133][134][135], all these stressful situations and conditions within the family system may lead to children's insecure attachment [136,137], which could elicit emotional distress and lead children to experience internalizing and externalizing symptoms that they try to manage by escaping in the virtual environments, thus increasing the risk of developing PMU.…”

Effects of use motivations and alexithymia on smartphone addiction: mediating role of insecure attachment

“…Consistent with our assumption, attachment avoidance is confirmed to mediate the association of smartphone addiction with several factors, including DIF, EOT, escape motivation and social motivation. People showing attachment avoidance tend to have the interpersonal functioning of avoidance and apathy; therefore, these people tend to leave their feelings unexplored and not care about the feelings of others ( Jauregui and Estevez, 2020 ; Ghinassi and Casale, 2023 ). Other scholars have shown that users with smartphone addiction behavior consider their smartphone as an instrument that helps them escape reality ( Boldrini et al, 2021 ; Gao et al, 2022 ).…”

The Relationship Between Attachment Styles, Defense Mechanisms and Substance Use Disorder

“…These findings align with our results and show more prevalent insecure attachment styles in the SUD population. A study by Ghinassi and Casale aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment styles and gambling disorder (19). They concluded that a secure attachment style could be considered protective against gambling behavior.…”

“…They concluded that a secure attachment style could be considered protective against gambling behavior. In contrast, they contended that an insecure attachment style could be considered a vulnerability as it favors gambling behavior and disrupts the affected individual's coping ability to regulate and identify emotions (19). These reports also show that insecure attachment styles can play a role in forming and continuing addictive behavior and disorders.…”