Indefensión aprendida y bienestar psicológico en individuos con comportamiento adictivo hacia las apuestas deportivas.

Abstract

Addictive behavior towards sports betting manifests itself through excessive, compulsive and uncontrollable participation in such activities. This behavior leads to negative results such as significant financial losses and the individual's inability to resist the intense impulses or cravings to bet. On the other hand, learned helplessness plays a crucial role in maintaining such behavior, which in turn affects the psychological well-being of individuals. The purpose of this research is to analyze learned helplessness and psychological well-being in individuals with addictive behavior towards betting. A descriptive, qualitative approach was carried out using a case study design. The type of sample applied was non-probabilistic for convenience, which included two young adults aged 20 and 23, who met the criteria and were selected to understand their experiences with addiction. The instruments used are the semi-structured interview and observation guide. As a result, young adults with addictive behavior towards sports betting exhibit that learned helplessness, characterized by the feeling of powerlessness and self-blame, plays a crucial role in maintaining gambling addiction. Participants presented low resilience and lack of autonomy, which affected their psychological well-being. Furthermore, addictive behavior was reflected in social isolation, interference in personal relationships, and obsessive thinking about gambling, evidencing the depth of the impact of this addiction on daily life.