The moderating role of hope in the relationship between religiosity and participation in games of chance and gambling addiction

Participation in games of chance can affect individuals' lives in psychological, social, economic and spiritual aspects. The effects of participation in games of chance on the individual may be related to the degree and severity of people's participation in these games. It is important at this point to determine the factors related to the degree and severity of participation in games of chance. The aim of this study is to measure the relationship between the level of participation in games of chance, the severity of problematic gambling behavior and gambling addiction with religiosity, reasons for gambling and level of hope. For this purpose, 470 participants between the ages of 18-65 living in Ankara (approximately 85% of the sample) and surrounding provinces (Samsun, Amasya, Tokat, Corum, approximately 15% of the sample) were administered the South-Oaks Gambling Screening Test, Feeling the Influence of Religion, Religious Affairs. Orientation Styles, Games of Chance Participation Questionnaire, Constant Hope, Reasons for Gambling Scales were applied. Within the scope of the research, one-way analysis of variance, multiple regression, correlation, t-test, and moderator variable analyzes were performed. Within the framework of the analyses, it was seen that there was a significant relationship between the level of participation in games of chance and gambling addiction and the reasons for gambling (earning money, avoiding, having fun/excitement, socializing). It has been observed that the level of feeling the influence of religion varies according to the behavior of participating in games of chance and gambling addiction. Among the religious orientation types, it was determined that strict normative and extrinsic religious orientation differed according to participation in games of chance and gambling addiction, while intrinsic and quest religious orientation did not differ. In multiple regression analysis, it was found that the level of feeling the influence of religion and internal, external and strict normative religious orientation predicted the behavior of participating in games of chance and the severity of problem gambling. It has been determined that the level of hope does not differ according to gambling addiction and participation in games of chance. As a result of moderator variable analyses, it was concluded that hope does not have a moderating role between religious variables (feeling the influence of religion, intrinsic religious orientation, extrinsic religious orientation, quest religious orientation, and rigid religious orientation) and the level of participation in games of chance. It has been found that hope does not have a moderating role between religious variables (feeling the influence of religion, intrinsic religious orientation, extrinsic religious orientation, questive religious orientation, and rigid religious orientation) and problematic gambling behavior.