Macía Guerrero, LauraJáuregui Bilbao, PaulaHerrero Lázaro, MartaMicó Valero, VirtuLamas Alonso, Juan JoséEstévez Gutiérrez, AnaIruarrizaga Díez, María Icíar2024-01-252024-01-252023-04Macía L, Jauregui P, Herrero M, Iruarrizaga I, Micó V, Lamas J, Estévez A. Sex-comparative study of gambling disorder regarding alexithymia and symptoms of depression, anxiety and hostility. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2023 Clave: Volumen: 122 Páginas, inicial: final: 152364 Fecha: 2023 Editorial (si libro): Lugar de publicación: A ISSN: 0010-440X eISSN: 1532-8384 https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/comprehensive-psychiatry https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152364.0010-440X10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152364https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/95588Background and aims Alexithymia and psychological symptomatology have been closely associated with gambling disorder (GD). However, sex differences remain underexplored. This study aims, firstly, to explore the differences between groups (GD and no-GD) and sexes (women vs. men) in alexithymia and psychological symptomatology (depression, anxiety and hostility). Secondly, the relationship between alexithymia and psychological symptomatology was analysed by gambling and sex groups. Thirdly, it examines the moderation role of sex and gambling in the relationship between alexithymia and each psychological symptom. Method The sample was composed of 80 people with GD diagnosis and 80 without GD (40 women and 40 men in each group). Results The results showed that alexithymia is positively related to depression, anxiety and hostility, with significantly higher scores in people with GD. Moderation analyses showed a threefold interaction, in which higher alexithymia was related to higher depression for men with GD but not for GD-women. However, in women with GD, depression levels are higher than in people without GD and tend to be more stable over time, despite the lack of effect of alexithymia. Conclusions These results provide evidence indicating that dysfunctional psychological symptomatology affects people with GD to a greater extent than people without GD, but also that the aetiology and effect of underlying vulnerability factors on gambling is different according to sex. The need of prevention and treatment programmes that consider different psychological aspects depending on sex is reinforced.engjournal article1532-8384https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/comprehensive-psychiatry36682199https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152364open accessGamblingalexithymiadepressionanxietyhostilitysexPsicología (Psicología)Psicología aplicada61 Psicología6106 Psicología Experimental6106.03 Emoción6101 Patología6101.04 Psicopatología6112 Estudio Psicológico de Temas Sociales