Relationship Between Cryptocurrency Trading, Hopelessness, and Financial Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Physicians

Abstract

Background: Cryptocurrencies trade continuously on highly volatile markets and can elicit emotionally driven, gambling-like behaviors. Physicians experience high occupational stress and burnout, potentially predisposing them to risky financial activities. We examined whether hopelessness and perceived financial well-being are associated with problematic cryptocurrency trading among physicians. Material/Methods: In a cross-sectional online survey, 300 licensed physicians from Diyarbak & imath;r, Turkey, completed the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS; score range, 0-20), Financial Well-Being Scale (FWBS; 0-100), and Problematic Cryptocurrency Trading Scale (PCTS; 16-80). Group differences were evaluated with t tests and chi-square tests, and multivariable linear regression models estimated PCTS predictors. Results: Participants' mean age was 39.8 +/- 7.2 years; 70% were male; mean practice duration was 14.1 +/- 6.9 years. Male physicians had higher PCTS scores than female physicians (33.0 +/- 6.8 vs 29.8 +/- 5.9; P=0.03); BHS and FWBS scores did not differ by sex. In regression models, older age ((3=0.32, P=0.04) and male sex ((3=1.45, P=0.02) predicted higher PCTS scores. Hopelessness was positively associated with PCTS ((3=0.80, P=0.001), whereas financial well-being showed a trend toward significance ((3=-0.03, P=0.067). The demographics-only model explained approximately 8% of PCTS variance; the psychosocial model R2=0.35 (P<0.001). Conclusions: Among physicians, male sex, older age, and higher hopelessness are independently associated with problematic cryptocurrency trading, while perceived financial well-being is not clearly protective. Targeted institutional interventions (financial literacy and stress-management programs) may mitigate compulsive trading and support physician well-being.