The Mediating Role of Attentional Inflexibility in the Association between Metacognitions and Severity of Gambling Disorder Symptoms

Gambling Disorder and its adverse outcomes are prevalent in Chinese gamblers, and modifiable cognitive factors should be identified to improve interventions. Drawing on the Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model, the present study examined the associations between positive and negative metacognitions about gambling, attentional inflexibility, and severity of Gambling Disorder symptoms in 1,024 Chinese gamblers. Results revealed that, consistent with hypotheses, both positive and negative metacognitions about gambling were positively correlated with severity of Gambling Disorder symptoms. Furthermore, attentional inflexibility significantly mediated the association between both positive and negative metacognitions about gambling and severity of Gambling Disorder symptoms. These findings not only provide additional evidence on the application of S-REF model to understanding Gambling Disorder but also highlight the potential benefits of Metacognitive Therapy in both restructuring metacognitions about gambling and modifying attentional inflexibility in mitigating gambling problems.