Online personalized normative feedback to foster intention to change and treatment- seeking in pathological gamblers and investors: protocol for a randomized controlled trial among young adults

Abstract Background: Despite the availability of treatment options, the percentage of individuals with gambling problems seeking help remains low. To reach a broader population of those affected by disordered gambling, online or self-guided interventions have been developed, with personalized normative feedback (PNF) being one of the most widely used strategies in preventing gambling issues among young adults. However, most studies on the efficacy of PNF focus only on its impact on the intensity and severity of gambling behavior, without exploring its potential effect on increasing intention to change and help-seeking behaviors. Furthermore, no studies have assessed the efficacy of PNF in addressing emerging online gambling-like behaviors, such as betting within video games or excessive financial trading of high-risk assets (e.g., cryptocurrencies), which have been linked to pathological gambling. Method/Design:This project has two main objectives: (1) to quantify intention to change and the prevalence of help-seeking behaviors in young adults in Spain with disordered gambling or trading behaviors, and (2) to assess the efficacy of online personalized normative feedback (PNF) in increasing these behaviors. A randomized controlled trial with a Solomon three-group design will be conducted, including a sample of at least 472 men and women aged 18-30 years. The study will include three assessments: a pre-test, an immediate post-test, and a 12-week follow-up assessment. The intervention will consist of online PNF, delivered to participants in two intervention groups. The impact of PNF on gambling and trading behavior (including intensity, frequency, and severity) and the longitudinal trajectory of these behaviors will be also evaluated. Additionally, individual, interpersonal, and contextual factors will be assessed to identify the profile of individuals most likely to benefit from this intervention. Discussion: This study is innovative in evaluating the efficacy of online PNF in promoting behavior change and help-seeking in young adults with gambling and trading disorders. The findings will offer valuable insights into the psychological and social impacts of these behaviors, informing future prevention and treatment strategies. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06681103; Date of Registration: November 7, 2024.