Shane Kraus (Psychology), director of the Behavioral Addictions Lab, recently co-authored three peer-reviewed publications examining substance use, responsible gambling, and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD).
The first study, published in PLOS One, examined associations between sexual abuse, impulsivity, and substance use among 64,472 participants in an international sample. Findings suggest that certain dimensions of impulsivity may influence the relationship between sexual trauma and substance use, with important differences across countries, gender identities, and sexual orientations. The findings highlight opportunities for developing more culturally responsive, trauma-informed interventions.
The second study, published in Addictive Behaviors, examined changes in responsible gambling behaviors and problem gambling symptoms among 2,942 U.S. adults followed over approximately two years. Results showed that improvements in gambling literacy were associated with reductions in problem gambling severity, highlighting the potential importance of gambling education in harm-reduction efforts.
The third publication, appearing in Current Addiction Reports, reviewed research on CSBD among sexual minority individuals. The review emphasized the importance of considering minority stress, stigma, and potential assessment biases when evaluating and treating CSBD. The authors also identified gaps in existing research and called for more culturally informed assessment and treatment approaches.
Together, these publications contribute to ongoing efforts to better understand risk factors for addictive behaviors and improve evidence-based prevention, assessment, and treatment across diverse populations.
Publications:
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Aksen, D. E., et al. (2026). The moderating role of impulsivity in the association between sexual abuse and substance use frequency across countries, gender identities, and sexual orientations. PLOS One.
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Connolly, A. J., Carrasquillo, K., Kraus, S. W., & Grubbs, J. B. (2026). Exploring the relationships between problem and responsible gambling behaviors across time. Addictive Behaviors.
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Moon, E. J., Borgogna, N. C., & Kraus, S. W. (2026). Compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and sexual minority individuals. Current Addiction Reports.
