Differences in the Relationship Between Impulsivity and Compulsivity Between Video Gamers and Gamblers

This study examined whether the association between impulsivity and compulsivity differs across patterns of engagement in gambling and video gaming. A total of 295 Ecuadorian adults (165 video gamers and 130 gamblers) were assessed with the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale and the GRACC-18 Compulsivity Assessment Questionnaire. Regression analyses explored whether five dimensions of impulsivity were differentially associated with compulsivity across groups. The results suggest that executive dysfunction and positive-affect urgency play a larger role in gambling-related compulsivity, whereas negative urgency and maladaptive regulation of distress are more salient in gaming. Such disorder-specific mechanisms call for a re-evaluation of current assumptions about the role of impulsivity in behavioural addictions and support the refinement of diagnostic criteria and interventions tailored to the emotional and cognitive profiles of each group.