Work

Childhood trauma, complex PTSD, and severity of online sports betting in French bettors

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Online sports betting has surged in France, creating significant public health and clinical issues. Although childhood trauma and PTSD are known risk factors for gambling disorder, their role in the context of addiction—especially with regard to online sports betting—has not been well-examined Determine how five Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) subscales and International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) symptom severity are associated with gambling severity (GMQ-F) among French sports bettors and derive actionable insights for addiction interventions We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 135 adult French online sports bettors. Participants completed the CTQ, ITQ, GMQ-F, and the MIH5 impulsivity scale. Two hierarchical regressions modeled gambling severity: Step 1 included CTQ subscales, and Step 2 included the ITQ total score and CTQ × ITQ interactions. Covariates were age, gender, and impulsivity. Prevalence was as follows (valid n = 134 for CTQ): emotional abuse 44.03% (59/134), sexual abuse 98.51% (132/134), physical neglect 88.81% (119/134), and physical abuse 39.55% (53/134). All participants met the 'problematic' threshold (100%, n = 135) on the French CPGI Physical abuse and overall PTSD symptoms independently were associated with higher betting severity. Unexpectedly, sexual abuse showed a negative association, warranting further exploration. No significant trauma × PTSD interactions were found PTSD symptoms and childhood physical abuse are robust predictors of the severity of online sports betting. Incorporating trauma-informed modules into standard gambling interventions, particularly those targeting arousal regulation and coping, may enhance treatment efficacy. Future addiction research should integrate detailed trauma profiling to refine risk stratification and prevention strategies.

Source: European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100602

Authors: Maeva d’Agostino, Samantha Tessier, Oulmann Zerhouni, Lucia Romo