Association between emotional dependence, traumatic life events, and early maladaptive schemas in women with gambling disorder

Women with gambling disorder (GD) present a high number of traumatic life events, early maladaptive schemas, and emotional dependence towards the partner. The objectives of the study focused on (I) analyzing the relationships between traumatic life events, schemas, and emotional dependence in women with GD; (II) analyzing the differences in traumatic life events, emotional dependence, and schemas between women and men with GD; (III) analyzing the predictive role of traumatic life events and schemas in emotional dependence in women with GD; and (IV) analyzing the mediating role of schemas between traumatic life events and emotional dependence in a clinical sample of women with GD. The sample comprised 60 women (M = 49.07, SD = 12.70) and 48 men (M = 41.33, SD = 12.32) who were in outpatient treatment for GD. The findings reflected a significantly positive relationship between traumatic life events and early maladaptive schemas and emotional dependence (r between .31 and .57). Women reported higher scores in traumatic life events and the early maladaptive schema of self-sacrifice, whereas men did so in emotional dependence (attention-seeking) and in the early maladaptive schema of social isolation (d ≥ .34). Finally, the mediating role of enmeshment and abandonment schemas in the relationship between traumatic life events and separation anxiety was demonstrated. The results allow the development of better interventions for women with GD. It is crucial to address enmeshment and abandonment patterns in women with GD with a history of traumatic life events to prevent them from leading to high emotional dependence on the partner.