NONE 20260725161109846 cmho/cmho content-registration-form@crossref.org content-registration-form European Archives of Social Sciences 3061-9572 Melike Şakar Near East University https://ror.org/02x8svs93 https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8935-0164 Hande Çelikay Söyler Near East University https://ror.org/02x8svs93 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6735-1321 The current study explored the relationship between self-esteem and suicidal ideation among individuals at risk for problem gambling, with a particular focus on the moderating role of key sociodemographic characteristics. The sample consisted of 112 adults residing in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus who were identified as being at risk using the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Data were collected through validated instruments, including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Suicide Cognitions Scale-Revised. Statistical analyses indicated that self-esteem significantly and negatively predicted suicidal ideation, accounting for 34% of the variance. Furthermore, moderation analyses revealed that this relationship varied significantly across gender, marital status, and educational level. Specifically, the predictive effect of low self-esteem on suicidal ideation was approximately three times stronger in males compared to females. Additionally, married individuals exhibited a stronger association between low self-esteem and suicidal ideation than single or divorced individuals, suggesting that marital status may lose its traditionally protective function in the context of gambling-related distress. Lower educational attainment was also found to amplify this risk. Overall, these findings underscore the critical role of self-esteem as both a risk and protective factor and highlight the importance of targeted, sociodemographically sensitive intervention strategies for individuals at risk for problem gambling. Bu çalışmada, kumar oynama riski taşıyan bireyler arasında benlik saygısı ile intihar düşüncesi arasındaki ilişki ve sosyodemografik özelliklerin düzenleyici rolü incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini, Güney Oaks Kumar Tarama Testi kullanılarak risk altında olduğu belirlenen, Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti’nde yaşayan 112 yetişkin oluşturmaktadır. Veriler, Rosenberg Benlik Saygısı Ölçeği ve İntihar Biliş Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, benlik saygısının intihar düşüncesini negatif yönde ve anlamlı biçimde yordadığını ve toplam varyansın %34’ünü açıkladığını göstermiştir. Ayrıca bu ilişkinin cinsiyet, medeni durum ve eğitim düzeyi gibi sosyodemografik değişkenler tarafından anlamlı şekilde düzenlendiği belirlenmiştir. Düşük benlik saygısının intihar düşüncesi üzerindeki etkisinin erkeklerde kadınlara kıyasla yaklaşık üç kat daha güçlü olduğu saptanmıştır. Medeni duruma göre yapılan analizlerde, evli bireylerin düşük benlik saygısı ile intihar düşüncesi arasında daha güçlü bir ilişki sergilediği görülmüştür. Bu durum, evliliğin kumar riski bağlamında koruyucu işlevini yitirerek bir stres kaynağına dönüşebileceğine işaret etmektedir. Ayrıca düşük eğitim düzeyinin bu riski artırıcı bir rol oynadığı belirlenmiştir. Bununla birlikte, elde edilen sonuçlar benlik saygısının hem koruyucu hem de risk artırıcı bir psikolojik değişken olarak önemli bir işlev gördüğünü ortaya koymaktadır. 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