Sex and age differences and psychosocial determinants of regular gambling: insights from a community-based study

Gambling participation among women and older adults has increased, yet research on the psychosocial determinants of gambling in these groups remains limited. This study explored sex- and age-related differences in gambling frequency, the influence of psychosocial factors such as perceived social support, psychological well-being, social connectedness, perceived social approval, and exposure to gambling within one’s network, and how these factors interact with perceptions of the social environment. A community-based sample of 634 adults (69.1% women; 28.7% aged ≥ 60; mean age = 45.7 ± 18.4) completed a survey assessing gambling behaviours and psychosocial variables. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and binary logistic regression were conducted. Regular gambling was reported by 12% of participants and was significantly more frequent among older adults and men. Higher psychosocial well-being was associated with reduced odds of regular gambling, while being female was also associated with a lower likelihood of regular gambling. Conversely, perceived social approval and an idealized view of the social environment were associated with higher odds of regular gambling, particularly among younger adults. Findings highlight the need for age- and gender-sensitive prevention strategies that strengthen meaningful social connections.