GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY
Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective: We aimed to estimate gambling participation and positive screening for probable gambling disorder and to examine their associations with hopelessness and suicide-related outcomes in a Turkish online sample. Methods: In this cross-sectional web-based survey, 1,057 adults completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and Suicide Probability Scale (SPS). Group differences were examined using non-parametric tests, followed by multivariable regression analyses. Results: Gambling participation was reported by 30.7% (95% CI 28.0–33.6) of participants; 4.9% (95% CI 3.8–6.4) screened positive for probable gambling disorder using the Turkish SOGS cut-off of ≥8. Participants reporting gambling had higher BHS and SPS scores, and differences were more pronounced among those screening positive for probable gambling disorder. The between-group difference in SPS scores among participants reporting gambling corresponded to a moderate-to-large effect (r=0.497, 95% CI 0.343–0.653). After covariate adjustment, gambling participation was associated with a 1.46-point higher BHS (95% CI 0.79–2.13) and 5.26-point higher SPS scores (95% CI 3.15–7.36). Among participants reporting gambling, positive screening was associated with 2.60-point higher BHS (95% CI 0.88–4.32) and 12.59-point higher SPS scores (95% CI 7.21–17.96). Gambling participation was also associated with histories of suicidal ideation (OR=1.71, 95% CI 1.17–2.50) and suicide attempt (OR=2.54, 95% CI 1.32–4.88). Conclusions: Gambling involvement, particularly positive SOGS screening, was associated with greater hopelessness and suicide-related symptom burden. The cross-sectional design and non-probability sampling preclude causal interpretation and population-level prevalence estimates.
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Ethical Statement
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Public Health (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Büşra Başer Özkoç
This is me
0009-0000-4568-9495
Türkiye
Ümmü Nur Kaya Tan
0009-0003-1306-3342
Türkiye
Hüseyin Kara
This is me
0000-0002-6938-2364
Türkiye
Müge Topcuoğlu
*
0000-0002-7098-8806
Türkiye
Ali Erdoğan
0000-0003-0329-6778
Türkiye
Sercan Karabulut
0000-0003-0122-229X
Türkiye
Buket Cinemre
0000-0001-6480-1454
Türkiye
Publication Date
September 30, 2026
Submission Date
August 17, 2026
Acceptance Date
September 9, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 3