{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,29]],"date-time":"2026-01-29T03:35:43Z","timestamp":1769657743488,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769558400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The present study aimed to analyze the differences in psychopathological symptomatology between men and women who participate in online gambling, as well as to explore the relationship between this symptomatology and different risk profiles. The sample consisted of 382 participants, all university students from a province in Spain, of whom 261 were men (68.3%) and 121 were women (31.7%), with a mean age of 21.8 years (SD = 3.2; range = 18\u201330 years). Psychopathological symptomatology was assessed using the SAS-45, while gambling risk profiles were determined using an ad hoc questionnaire. The results of the risk profiles were formed by categorizing the SOG-RA Scale scores into non-risk gambler, at-risk gambler, and pathological gambler. The results evidenced that gender and risk profile are determining factors in the manifestation of psychopathological symptoms. It was observed that women tend to internalize their emotional problems, presenting higher levels of depression, anxiety, and interpersonal sensitivity, while men exhibit a greater propensity to externalize their symptoms, manifesting hostility, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. Furthermore, gamblers with high-risk profiles showed higher scores in both internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Significant correlations were identified between risk profile, psychopathological symptomatology, and cognitive distortions, suggesting the need for comprehensive interventions differentiated by gender. These findings provide valuable information for the design of specific treatments that address the emotional and cognitive needs of problem gamblers, contributing to improving the effectiveness of therapeutic strategies in the context of problem gambling. University gambling is an emerging public health issue with consequences that extend beyond the individual, affecting educational, social, and economic well-being. This study addresses a critical gap by delineating gender-specific psychopathological profiles across gambling risk categories, providing actionable evidence to inform campus-based screening and targeted prevention strategies. The findings underscore the necessity of integrating gender-responsive interventions and upstream measures\u2014such as early detection within student health services and harm-reduction messaging\u2014to effectively mitigate gambling-related harm.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23020168","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T15:04:46Z","timestamp":1769612686000},"page":"168","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Problem Gambling Among Spanish University Students: A Gender Perspective Analysis and Its Public Health Relevance"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7998-2398","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan Andr\u00e9s","family":"Samaniego Gisbert","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, Basic Psychology, Universidad Isabel I, 09003 Burgos, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9968-9730","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Raquel","family":"Suri\u00e1 Mart\u00ednez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Communication and Social Psychology, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nerea","family":"Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez Torres","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, Basic Psychology, Universidad Isabel I, 09003 Burgos, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"(2000). American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, American Psychiatric Association. [4th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109852","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pnpbp.2019.109852","article-title":"Gambling and substance use: Comorbidity and treatment implications","volume":"99","author":"Grant","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prog. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3309","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291722002707","article-title":"Neurofunctional mapping of reward anticipation and outcome for major depressive disorder: A voxel-based meta-analysis","volume":"52","author":"Yang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"500","DOI":"10.1556\/2006.2023.00016","article-title":"Relationship of gambling disorder with traumatic life events and emotion regulation in adolescents and young adults","volume":"12","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Behav. Addict."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Observatorio Espa\u00f1ol de las Drogas y las Adicciones (2024). Informe sobre Adicciones Comportamentales y Otros Trastornos Adictivos 2024: Indicador de Admitidos a Tratamiento por Adicciones Comportamentales, Ministerio de Sanidad, Delegaci\u00f3n del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Miller, L., Mide, M., Arvidson, E., and Gordh, A.S. (2023). Clinical differences between men and women in a Swedish treatment-seeking population with gambling disorder. Front. Psychiatry, 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.1054236"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"659","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-014-9455-4","article-title":"Prevalence and correlates of problem gambling in a representative sample of Norwegian 17-year-olds","volume":"31","author":"Hanss","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Gambl. Stud."},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"189","article-title":"Fiabilidad y validez de un cuestionario para medir en estudiantes universitarios la asociaci\u00f3n de la ansiedad y la depresi\u00f3n con factores acad\u00e9micos y psicosociofamiliares durante el curso 2004\u20132005","volume":"82","year":"2008","journal-title":"Rev. Esp. Salud Publica"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.31637\/epsir-2025-1653","article-title":"Distorsiones cognitivas en la adicci\u00f3n al juego online: Un an\u00e1lisis basado en el g\u00e9nero de los estudiantes universitarios","volume":"10","author":"Gisbert","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur. Public Soc. Innov. Rev."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"490","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1360-0443.2010.03300.x","article-title":"Prevalence of comorbid disorders in problem and pathological gambling: Systematic review and meta-analysis of population surveys","volume":"106","author":"Lorains","year":"2011","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.1007\/s11469-011-9318-5","article-title":"Internet gaming addiction: A systematic review of empirical research","volume":"10","author":"Kuss","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Ment. Health Addict."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2015.03.033","article-title":"Comorbid physical and mental illnesses among pathological gamblers: Results from a population-based study in Singapore","volume":"227","author":"Subramaniam","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.3109\/00952990.2010.491884","article-title":"Introduction to behavioral addictions","volume":"36","author":"Grant","year":"2010","journal-title":"Am. J. Drug Alcohol Abus."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1231","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addbeh.2004.03.023","article-title":"Pathological gambling, gender, and risk-taking behaviors","volume":"29","author":"Martins","year":"2004","journal-title":"Addict. Behav."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2005.08.017","article-title":"Psychological experience of gambling and subtypes of pathological gamblers","volume":"144","author":"Ledgerwood","year":"2006","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"976","DOI":"10.1097\/01.psy.0000238466.76172.cd","article-title":"Health problems and medical utilization associated with gambling disorders: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions","volume":"68","author":"Morasco","year":"2006","journal-title":"Psychosom. Med."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pacompia, M., and Rocha, N. (2022). Conductas Sexuales de Riesgo en Estudiantes Universitarios, Instituto Universitario de Innovaci\u00f3n Ciencia y Tecnolog\u00eda Inudi Per\u00fa S.A.C.","DOI":"10.35622\/inudi.b.009"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpsy.2019.04.001","article-title":"Developmental trajectories of gambling severity after cognitive behavioral therapy","volume":"60","author":"Granero","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1987","DOI":"10.1007\/s10899-024-10323-5","article-title":"Correlates of problematic gambling in emerging adult university students in Ireland","volume":"40","author":"Murphy","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Gambl. Stud."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Maruish, M.E. (2004). Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire (SA-45). The Use of Psychological Testing for Treatment Planning and Outcomes Assessment: Instruments for Adults, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.","DOI":"10.4324\/9781410610638"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"873","DOI":"10.1152\/physrev.00041.2006","article-title":"Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the brain","volume":"87","author":"McEwen","year":"2007","journal-title":"Physiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Petry, N.M. (2005). Pathological Gambling: Etiology, Comorbidity, and Treatment, American Psychological Association.","DOI":"10.1037\/10894-000"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"715","DOI":"10.47197\/retos.v73.117143","article-title":"Sintomatolog\u00eda psicopatol\u00f3gica en estudiantes universitarios con y sin discapacidad participantes de juegos y apuestas online","volume":"73","year":"2025","journal-title":"Retos"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.69739\/jelm.v2i1.224","article-title":"Sports betting impact on academic performance and coping strategies among students of the University of Port Harcourt","volume":"2","author":"Ochor","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Educ. Learn. Manag."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"290","article-title":"SA-45: Forma abreviada del SCL-90","volume":"20","author":"Valiente","year":"2008","journal-title":"Psicothema"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Winters, K.C., Stinchfield, R.D., and Fulkerson, J. (1993). South Oaks Gambling Screen\u2014Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA), APA PsycTests.","DOI":"10.1037\/t21463-000"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/23\/2\/168\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T15:11:28Z","timestamp":1769613088000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/23\/2\/168"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph23020168"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph23020168","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]]}}}