Gambling is becoming a growing cause of mental distress in young men, often triggering feelings of dejection similar to those experienced with pornography consumption.
According to a multi-part study by the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), a think tank focusing on family issues, almost two-thirds of college-age males engage in day trading stocks, a practice with a similar risk profile to sports betting. This behavior is leading to mental distress in young men.
“Around 1 in 10 young men characterize gambling-related distress and life problems as severe or extreme,” as stated by the IFS. “Another 29% consider them ‘moderate,’ and a similar percentage as ‘mild.’”
The study reveals that young men, particularly those aged 18 to 29, who are struggling mentally due to gambling are more likely to have fewer friendships and romantic relationships and may also engage in other unhealthy habits like marijuana use, pornography consumption, and excessive video gaming.
Betting, Pornography, and Feelings of Failure
Both young men involved in day trading and gambling often experience feelings of failure. Losing trades can provoke feelings of inadequacy, similar to the emotions evoked by betting and watching adult content.
“Frequent engagement in online activities like gambling and pornography viewing is associated with increased loneliness, depression, and feelings of failure, indicating that these activities are used as coping mechanisms for stress,” notes the institute.
Historically, young people have been susceptible to problematic gambling tendencies, a trend confirmed by the IFS study. It reports that 23% of young men gamble daily, with an additional 12% gambling multiple times a week. While the correlation is not definitive, a significant portion of male bettors in the 18-29 age group also consume adult content regularly, with 42% watching daily and 27% watching several times a week. The common denominator is that both gambling and pornography viewing elicit negative emotions in young men.
“Around 2 in 3 regular online gamblers say it has caused them at least some distress. Of those who watch pornography many times a day or more, 43% experience loneliness, 36% feel depressed, and 29% are anxious,” according to the IFS. “Feeling like a failure is also closely tied to these activities. For example, 66% of daily gamblers and 63% of daily pornography watchers, compared to 42% of men as a whole, report feeling like a failure.”
Interesting Connections
With the rise of regulated online gambling in the U.S., more studies are examining its effects. Academic research, like the IFS survey, is exploring the potential societal harm caused by increased gambling activity.
Everyday life factors into young men’s gambling habits. For instance, according to the IFS research, 25% and 31% of young men working full or part-time report moderate distress from online gambling. These percentages rise to 30% and 37% for students/caregivers and unemployed young men, respectively.
Furthermore, there seems to be a correlation between fatherhood and gambling distress. Married fathers and single dads reported moderate distress from online gambling at 16% and 29%, respectively. These figures increase to 55% and 31%, respectively, for married young men without children and single men aged 18-29 without children.