PROBLEM GAMBLING: SUMMARIZING RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DEFINING NEW HORIZONS (original) (raw)
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The continued proliferation of gaming venues in the United States and abroad and its attendant public policy considerations have generated a marked increase in the quantity and quality of research on disordered gambling behavior. Between 1975 and 1994, there were only 376 published articles on pathological gambling reported in the PsycINFO database, and many of those dealt with either prevalence studies or small-scale explorations of populations of male treatment-seeking gamblers. In the past 10 years, that number has doubled to more than 770 articles in a field that is still emerging.
This paper argues that adherence to a single, specialised theory of gambling is largely untenable. It highlights limitations of existing theories of gambling at three increasingly specific levels of analysis; namely, the social, psychological and biological. An overview of each level of analysis (social, psychological and biological) is provided by critically evaluating the contemporary literature on gambling. This is followed by discussions of the limitations and interdependence of each theoretical approach and the implications for research and clinical interventions. While several recent critiques of gambling research have provided considerable insight into the methodological limitations of many gambling studies, another problem is seldom acknowledged — the inadequacy and insular nature of many research paradigms. It is argued that gambling is a multifaceted behaviour, strongly influenced by contextual factors that cannot be encompassed by any single theoretical perspective. Such contextual factors include variations in gambling involvement and motivation across different demographic groups, the structural characteristics of activities and the developmental or temporal nature of gambling behaviour. This paper suggests that research and clinical interventions are best served by a biopsychosocial approach that incorporates the best strands of contemporary psychology, biology and sociology.
2007
of full length (20-30 doublespaced pages approximately), which may contain multiple experiments, and are original contributions to the published literature on gambling. Research Reportsa manuscript of reduced length (no more than 10 double-spaced pages and a single figure or table page), which may be less experimentally rigorous than a Research Article, a replication of or failure to replicate a prior published article, or pilot data that demonstrates a clear relationship between independent and dependent variable(s). The Results and Discussion sections of Reports should be combined. Clinical Demonstrationsa manuscript of reduced length (no more than 8 double-spaced pages and a single figure or table page) which lack the rigor of a true experimental design, yet do demonstrate behavior change of persons with gambling disorders under clinical care. This manuscript should contain an Introduction, Methods/Treatments, Results, and Discussion sections. The Results and Discussion sections of Clinical Demonstrations should be combined.
The relationship between age of gambling onset and adolescent problematic gambling severity
Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2012
The aim of this study was to characterize the association between problem gambling severity and multiple health, functioning and gambling variables in adolescents aged 13e18 stratified by age of gambling onset. Survey data in 1624 Connecticut high school students stratified by age of gambling onset (11 years vs. 12 years) were analyzed in descriptive analyses and in logistic regression models. Earlier age of onset was associated with problem gambling severity as indexed by a higher frequency of at-risk/ problem gambling (ARPG). Most health, functioning and gambling measures were similarly associated with problem gambling severity in the earlier-and later-age-of-gambling-onset groups with the exception of participation in non-strategic forms of gambling, which was more strongly associated with ARPG in the earlier-onset (OR ¼ 1.74, 95%CI ¼ [1.26, 2.39]) as compared to later-onset (OR ¼ 0.94, 95% CI ¼ [0.60, 1.48]) group (Interaction OR ¼ 1.91, 95%CI ¼ [1.18, 3.26])
Due to the increase in accessibility and opportunities to gamble, a large body of research has shown that increasing numbers of adolescents engage in gambling (e.g., Griffiths, 1995; Jacobs, 2000). Surveys in the United States reveal that participation in card games, sports betting, games of skills, and video lottery terminals are most common in youth (e.g., National Research Council, 1999). In order to determine the extent of problem gambling in different population segments, Shaffer and Hall (2001) conducted a meta-analysis and summarized 139 distinct estimates from North American prevalence studies, including 32 samples with adolescents. Their calculations demonstrate a lifetime rate for pathological gambling (level 3 gambling) in adolescence of 3.38% (past-year prevalence: 4.8%) and a lifetime level of adolescent problem gambling (level 2 gambling) of 8.4% (past-year prevalence: 14.6%). European prevalence studies also have identified small but significant number of adolescents can be classified as problem gamblers (e.g., Becona Iglesias, del Carmen Míguez Varela & Vázquez González, 2001 [Spain] - 5.6%; Johansson & Götestam, 2003 [Norway]—1.8%; Fisher, 1999 [UK]—5.6%; Lupu, Onaca & Lupu, 2002 [Romania] - 6.8%). Despite methodological inconsistencies, these prevalence studies highlight the growing need (a) to introduce effective prevention programs for adolescents to diminish the incidence of problem adolescent gambling and (b) to implement appro- priate treatment facilities for adolescents to avert further maladaptive outcomes and foster a behavioral change.
Young adults' gambling and its association with mental health and substance use problems
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2012
ecent decades have witnessed a significant increase in the prevalence of gambling and gambling problems in young adults. 1-4 In Australia, between 1991/92 and 2004/05, annual gambling expenditure (player losses) rose from 7.3billionto7.3 billion to 7.3billionto16.9 billion in real terms. 5 Although a lot of research has been reported on the prevalence and correlates of gambling in adults, there is a shortage of evidence about the characteristics of adolescent and young adult gamblers. Research has shown that onset of gambling in adolescence and early adulthood is associated with greater gambling involvement in adulthood. 6 The objectives of this study are based on the need to increase our understanding of gambling behaviour and its association with psychopathology and substance use disorders in a population of young adults. Such information may help key stakeholders, including those in the gambling health services and government agencies. Research indicates that between 70% and 90% of adults have gambled at some time in their lives. 7,8 These rates are similar to those Young adults' gambling and its association with mental health and substance use problems