Previous research has identified the benefits of increasing self-efficacy in problem gamblers, while other research has identified higher levels of shame and dysfunctional coping in problem gamblers. The primary aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between problem gambling behaviour, shame (as both a personality trait and an emotional state), gambling-related self-efficacy, and dysfunctional coping mechanisms. The sample consisted of 235 participants (172 male; mean age = 30.32, SD = 8.57), who completed an online, self-report questionnaire that assessed gambling severity, shame-proneness, post-gambling shame and guilt, and dysfunctional coping. Data were assessed using path analysis models. As hypothesised, more problematic gambling was significantly associated with dysfunctional coping. A pathway mediation model was determined and several mediator variables were found to operate in series, including: shame proneness, post-gambling shame, and gambling-related self-efficacy. This research supports and builds on previous research that has highlighted the detrimental effect of problem gambling and shame on coping mechanisms, and the benefits of gambling-related self-efficacy for subsequent coping. A limitation of the study was that 18.7% of the sample reported scores indicative of probable pathological gambling, while most of the remaining sample were representative of recreational gambling. Implications of this are discussed.

以前的研究已经确定了提高问题赌徒自我效能的好处，而其他研究已经确定了问题赌徒更高水平的羞耻和功能失调的应对方式。本研究的主要目的是检查问题赌博行为、羞耻（作为人格特征和情绪状态）、赌博相关的自我效能和功能失调的应对机制之间的关系。样本包括 235 名参与者（172 名男性；平均年龄 = 30.32，SD = 8.57），他完成了一份在线自我报告问卷，该问卷评估了赌博的严重程度、羞耻倾向、赌博后的羞耻和内疚以及功能失调的应对。使用路径分析模型评估数据。正如假设的那样，更多有问题的赌博与功能失调的应对显着相关。确定了一个通路中介模型，并发现几个中介变量串联运行，包括：羞耻倾向、赌博后羞耻和赌博相关的自我效能。这项研究支持并建立在先前的研究基础上，这些研究强调了问题赌博和羞耻对应对机制的不利影响，以及与赌博相关的自我效能对后续应对的好处。该研究的一个局限性是 18.7% 的样本报告了可能是病态赌博的分数，而剩下的大部分样本都是娱乐性赌博的代表。对此的影响进行了讨论。