AI Insight
This study of 135 young people with motor disabilities in Spain found that 60.7% had participated in online gambling, and that cognitive distortions (specifically gambler's fallacy and illusion of control) were significantly associated with gambling severity and predicted increased risk of problem gambling. Statistical analysis revealed that cognitive distortions partially mediate the relationship between online gambling participation and gambling risk, with both types of distortions showing odds ratios of 1.21-1.24 for predicting gambling problems.
Why it matters
The findings identify cognitive distortions as a critical intervention target for preventing problem gambling in young people with motor disabilities, a potentially vulnerable population with limited prior research. Understanding these psychological mechanisms can inform tailored prevention programs and therapeutic approaches for this demographic.
Understand the Science
This study examines participation in online gambling, explores the relationship between cognitive distortions (gambler’s fallacy and illusion of control) and gambling severity, and evaluates their predictive role in the risk of problem gambling. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 135 young people with motor disabilities from major Spanish disability associations. Questionnaires were used to assess participation in online gambling, cognitive distortions, and level of gambling risk. Descriptive, correlational, logistic regression analyses, and a mediation model with bootstrap were performed. A total of 60.7% of participants reported having engaged in online gambling. Cognitive distortions were significantly associated with gambling severity. Logistic regression indicated that both dimensions predict gambling risk (OR = 1.21–1.24, p < 0.01), with an AUC of 0.81. The mediation model showed that cognitive distortions partially mediate the relationship between participation in online gambling and gambling risk. The results suggest that cognitive distortions play a key role in explaining gambling risk among students with motor disabilities, representing a relevant target for prevention and intervention.