Behavioral Addictions and Risk-Taking in the Digital Age: Gambling, Sports Betting, and Emerging Challenges

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Topic aims to explore the growing phenomenon of behavioral addictions and risk-taking behaviors in the digital era, with a particular focus on gambling, sports betting, and related disorders. The accessibility of online betting platforms, along with the gamification of financial and entertainment systems, has led to an increase in problematic behaviors, especially among adolescents and young adults. These behaviors are often linked to emotional vulnerability, impulsivity, and co-occurring mental health issues.

We invite original research, systematic reviews, and theoretical discussions that address the psychological, emotional, neurobiological, and sociocultural mechanisms associated with gambling and digital behavioral addictions. We especially encourage studies that examine prevention models, public health policies, psychometric tools, and innovative interventions (e.g., digital or cognitive–behavioral approaches). By fostering interdisciplinary and cross-cultural dialogue, this topic aims to enhance scientific understanding of behavioral addictions and contribute to the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Prof. Dr. André Luiz Monezi Andrade
Dr. Denise De Micheli
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Behavioral Sciences behavsci	2.5	3.1	2011	32 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Healthcare healthcare	2.7	4.7	2013	22.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Psychiatry International psychiatryint	1.1	2.0	2020	27.2 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Adolescents adolescents	0.8	1.8	2021	44.3 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Social Sciences socsci	1.7	3.1	2012	33.1 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Children children	2.1	3.8	2014	17.5 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.

MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

1. Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
2. Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
3. Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
4. Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
5. Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results

Content type Publication Date

Result details

Normal Extended Compact

Journals

All Behavioral Sciences Healthcare Psychiatry International Adolescents Social Sciences Children

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

13 pages, 269 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Relationship of Internet Addiction and Gambling Craving with Personality and Psychological Well-Being

by Joan García-Perales, Isabel Martínez and Elena Delgado

Adolescents 2026, 6(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents6010020 - 13 Feb 2026

Viewed by 132

Abstract

The availability of the Internet in current society has brought about the development of Internet addiction and participation in online gambling. This study aimed to examine the associations between Internet addiction and gambling craving with personality traits and psychological well-being (self-esteem and life [...] Read more.

The availability of the Internet in current society has brought about the development of Internet addiction and participation in online gambling. This study aimed to examine the associations between Internet addiction and gambling craving with personality traits and psychological well-being (self-esteem and life satisfaction), controlling for gender differences. The sample consisted of 517 Spanish university students (28.6% males), aged 21–23 years (mean age = 21.53 years; SD = 3.76). Participants were administered the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Gambling Craving Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, Mini-IPIP Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The results show that Internet addiction is negatively related to self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and personality traits of agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience. In line with these findings, the results concerning gambling craving are particularly noteworthy, revealing significant negative associations with self-esteem, life satisfaction, and the personality traits of agreeableness and openness to experience. This pattern suggests that heightened craving may be linked to broader deficits in psychological well-being and adaptive personality functioning. Finally, the results indicate differences by gender when predicting Internet addiction and gambling craving through personality and psychological well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Behavioral Addictions and Risk-Taking in the Digital Age: Gambling, Sports Betting, and Emerging Challenges)

►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 1119 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Moderated Mediation in Problematic Digital Gaming Among Adolescents: Self-Esteem, Social Anxiety, Self-Concealment, and Sensation Seeking

by İbrahim Erdoğan Yayla, Samet Makas, Lokman Koçak, Murat Yıldırım and Kübra Dombak

Children 2025, 12(12), 1683; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12121683 - 11 Dec 2025

Viewed by 807

Abstract

Background: Problematic digital gaming among adolescents is a common behavioral issue that has negative consequences on school functioning and mental health. Theoretically, it is predicted that low self-esteem paves the way for problematic gaming by increasing social anxiety and self-concealment; this indirect [...] Read more.

Background: Problematic digital gaming among adolescents is a common behavioral issue that has negative consequences on school functioning and mental health. Theoretically, it is predicted that low self-esteem paves the way for problematic gaming by increasing social anxiety and self-concealment; this indirect pathway may be stronger in sensation seeking adolescents. Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between self-esteem and problematic digital gaming among adolescents, first through the PROCESS Model 6 in terms of social anxiety and self-concealment as mediators, and subsequently through Model 89 in terms of moderated mediation by sensation seeking. Method: The sample consisted of 448 Turkish adolescents (243 (54.2%) males, 205 (45.8%) females) aged between 13 and 18 years (M = 15.9). Participants completed the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents—Short Form, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Concealment Scale, Brief Sensation Seeking Scale and the Social Anxiety Scale-8. Results: A significant negative relationship was found between self-esteem and problematic digital gaming. Social anxiety and self-concealment fully mediated this relationship (indirect effects were significant). Sensation seeking conditioned the mediation by strengthening pathways to problematic digital gaming (moderated mediation was significant). The indirect effect was greater in those with high sensation seeking. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the negative effect, ranging from self-esteem to problematic digital gaming, progresses through social anxiety and self-concealment, and that this mediation is strengthened in adolescents with high sensation seeking. These results emphasize the need to integrate social anxiety reduction and self-expression skills into interventions in a target-sensitive manner, taking into account differences in sensation seeking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Behavioral Addictions and Risk-Taking in the Digital Age: Gambling, Sports Betting, and Emerging Challenges)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1542 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Do the Four Components of Psychological Capital Have Differential Buffering Effects? A Longitudinal Study on Parental Neglect and Adolescent Problematic Short-Form Video Use

by Lianpeng An, Xiaopan Xu, Hongwei Li and Qingqi Liu

Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 1396; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15101396 - 15 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1320

Abstract

The growing prevalence of short-form video applications among adolescents has drawn increased public and scholarly attention to problematic short-form video use. The current longitudinal study gathered data from adolescents aged 12 to 15 across two waves spaced one year apart. A total of [...] Read more.

The growing prevalence of short-form video applications among adolescents has drawn increased public and scholarly attention to problematic short-form video use. The current longitudinal study gathered data from adolescents aged 12 to 15 across two waves spaced one year apart. A total of 665 participants provided reports on parental neglect, problematic short-form video use, psychological capital, and demographic details at Time 1 (T1), and reported again on problematic use at Time 2 (T2). After controlling for gender, age, parental education level, parental work status, family socioeconomic status, only-child status, and T1 problematic short-form video use, T1 parental neglect remained a significant predictor of T2 problematic use. Additionally, T1 self-efficacy, T1 resilience, and T1 hope significantly moderated the relationship between T1 parental neglect and T2 problematic use, whereas T1 optimism did not demonstrate a buffering effect. Specifically, the association between T1 parental neglect and T2 problematic use did not vary significantly between adolescents with high and low levels of optimism. However, the predictive effect was significantly weaker, though still statistically significant, among adolescents with higher self-efficacy and hope. Most notably, among those with higher resilience, the effect of parental neglect became non-significant. The study offers valuable evidence-based insights for preventing and addressing adolescent problematic short-form video use in the mobile internet era. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Behavioral Addictions and Risk-Taking in the Digital Age: Gambling, Sports Betting, and Emerging Challenges)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 274 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Adolescent Screen Time and Sleep Quality: Predictive Factors and Their Effect on Academic Achievement Among Adolescents in Jordan

by Nahla M. Al Ali and Afnan Emad Abu-Libdha

Adolescents 2025, 5(4), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/adolescents5040055 - 9 Oct 2025

Viewed by 7639

Abstract

Adolescents’ increasing screen time has been linked to poor sleep quality, which may, in turn, affect their academic performance. This study aimed to examine screen time patterns among Jordanian adolescents and assess their associations with sleep quality and academic achievement. A descriptive correlational [...] Read more.

Adolescents’ increasing screen time has been linked to poor sleep quality, which may, in turn, affect their academic performance. This study aimed to examine screen time patterns among Jordanian adolescents and assess their associations with sleep quality and academic achievement. A descriptive correlational study was conducted among 477 students aged 12–14 years from four randomly selected schools in northern Jordan. Participants completed the validated Questionnaire for Screen Time of Adolescents (QueST) and the Adolescent Sleep–Wake Scale–Short Version (ASWS-S), while academic performance was assessed using GPA from school records. Results showed that average screen time was 9.13 h per day. Weekend screen time emerged as a significant negative predictor of sleep quality (β = −0.27, p = 0.016). Gender and school type were also significant predictors. Adolescents with screen devices in their bedrooms and those with chronic medical conditions reported higher screen time. Although total screen time did not significantly predict academic achievement, it showed a moderate negative correlation with sleep quality (r = −0.18, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that excessive screen use, particularly on weekends, may impair sleep quality among adolescents. Interventions targeting screen habits could help enhance sleep and potentially benefit academic performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Behavioral Addictions and Risk-Taking in the Digital Age: Gambling, Sports Betting, and Emerging Challenges)

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

 

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

Displaying articles 1-4