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Journal of Gambling Studies
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies 2/2017

01-06-2017 | Original Paper

Gambling Disorder and Affect Regulation: The Role of Alexithymia and Attachment Style

Authors: Michela Di Trani, Alessia Renzi, Chiara Vari, Giulio Cesare Zavattini, Luigi Solano

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 2/2017

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore the dimensions of alexithymia and attachment styles in a group of disordered gamblers and to evaluate the relationship between alexithymia, attachment styles, and the severity of gambling disorder. Sixty disordered gamblers diagnosed according to the diagnostic and statistical manual-5 filled out the Kurzfragebogen zum Glücksspielverhalten, the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised. Approximately 70 % of the sample displayed ‘intermediate’ and ‘severe’ gambling severity levels on the Kurzfragebogen zum Glücksspielverhalten, and 77 % showed ‘high’ or ‘borderline’ levels of alexithymia on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (mean = 56.40). Regarding attachment styles, 70 % of the sample displayed an ‘insecure’ attachment, with a particularly high prevalence of the ‘fearful’ style (26.66 %). A linear regression analysis revealed that only the anxiety dimension of the Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire predicted the severity of gambling. Our data appear to confirm that gambling disorder is characterised by emotional and relational dysregulation, and that pathological gambling behaviours may serve as external regulators of internal undifferentiated emotional states.
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Metadata
Title
Gambling Disorder and Affect Regulation: The Role of Alexithymia and Attachment Style
Authors
Michela Di Trani
Alessia Renzi
Chiara Vari
Giulio Cesare Zavattini
Luigi Solano
Publication date
01-06-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 2/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-016-9637-3

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