A moderated mediation analysis of the quality of life, gambling craving, escape expectancies and problem gambling relationships

The easy access to Internet through increased availability and ownership of Internet-enabled facilities such as smart/android phones and communication data by adolescents have increased their vulnerability to problem gambling (PG). There is therefore need to understand the relationship between PG and some psychological and situational factors that have the capacity to influence its development and severity. The present study is a test of a moderated mediation model in which the effect of quality of life (QoL) on PG was mediated by escape, and this mediation effect was further moderated by gambling craving (GAC). Participants (N = 197: 83% male, Mage = 24.05 years, SD age = 7.23 years) online gamblers took part in the survey and responded to the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), GQoL scale, Gambling Outcome Expectancies Scale-Escape (GOES-E), and the GAC scale. PROCESS macro analysis result reveals a significant moderated mediation effect of the escape-PG path by GAC. The findings provide support for escape as a potential pathway through which the QoL-PG association may thrive, and this support was further influenced by GAC. This is a significant contribution to the QoL-PG literature. However, we emphasize the need for further investigation of GAC as a criterion for PG.