Research Article

GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY

Volume: 12 Number: 3 September 30, 2026
TR EN

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.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declared that no financial support was received for this paper.

Ethical Statement

Written ethics committee approval was obtained for the study from the Akdeniz University Medical Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Date: 02.01.2025, Decision number: TBAEK-42).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Public Health (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

August 17, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 3

APA
Başer Özkoç, B., Kaya Tan, Ü. N., Kara, H., Topcuoğlu, M., Erdoğan, A., Karabulut, S., & Cinemre, B. (2026). GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 12(3), 282-291. https://doi.org/10.30934/kusbed.2013046
AMA
1.Başer Özkoç B, Kaya Tan ÜN, Kara H, et al. GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY. KOU Sag Bil Derg. 2026;12(3):282-291. doi:10.30934/kusbed.2013046
Chicago
Başer Özkoç, Büşra, Ümmü Nur Kaya Tan, Hüseyin Kara, et al. 2026. “GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY”. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 12 (3): 282-91. https://doi.org/10.30934/kusbed.2013046.
EndNote
Başer Özkoç B, Kaya Tan ÜN, Kara H, Topcuoğlu M, Erdoğan A, Karabulut S, Cinemre B (September 1, 2026) GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 12 3 282–291.
IEEE
[1]B. Başer Özkoç et al., “GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY”, KOU Sag Bil Derg, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 282–291, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.30934/kusbed.2013046.
ISNAD
Başer Özkoç, Büşra - Kaya Tan, Ümmü Nur - Kara, Hüseyin - Topcuoğlu, Müge - Erdoğan, Ali - Karabulut, Sercan - Cinemre, Buket. “GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY”. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 12/3 (September 1, 2026): 282-291. https://doi.org/10.30934/kusbed.2013046.
JAMA
1.Başer Özkoç B, Kaya Tan ÜN, Kara H, Topcuoğlu M, Erdoğan A, Karabulut S, Cinemre B. GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY. KOU Sag Bil Derg. 2026;12:282–291.
MLA
Başer Özkoç, Büşra, et al. “GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY”. Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 12, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 282-91, doi:10.30934/kusbed.2013046.
Vancouver
1.Büşra Başer Özkoç, Ümmü Nur Kaya Tan, Hüseyin Kara, Müge Topcuoğlu, Ali Erdoğan, Sercan Karabulut, Buket Cinemre. GAMBLING INVOLVEMENT, HOPELESSNESS, AND SUICIDE-RELATED INDICATORS IN TURKİYE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY. KOU Sag Bil Derg. 2026 Sep. 1;12(3):282-91. doi:10.30934/kusbed.2013046