The Role of Narcissism, Hyper-competitiveness and Maladaptive Coping Strategies on Male Adolescent Regular Gamblers: Two Mediation Models

The present study aimed to explore the unique and common role that some cognitive, personality and relational characteristics play in male adolescents’ regular gambling behavior. Participants were 273 male adolescents and young adults aged 15–19 recruited in sports betting centers. They completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire, the Hypercompetitive Attitude scale, and The Coping Strategy Indicator. The relationship between narcissistic rivalry and gambling was mediated by hyper-competitiveness and avoidant coping strategy. These findings suggest that narcissistic features and maladaptive coping strategies might be involved in the development of disordered gambling in youth, supporting a compensatory model of this addictive behavior and claiming for preventative actions that take into account the psychological vulnerabilities of adolescents and young adults.