The Experience of Gambling and its Role in Problem Gambling |
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Authors: | Nigel E Turner Masood Zangeneh Nina Littman-Sharp |
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Institution: | 1. Social, Prevention and Health Policy Research Department , The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, Canada;2. Problem Gambling Service , The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, Canada |
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Abstract: | This paper reports on the results of a psychological study conducted in Ontario, Canada, that attempted to answer the question of why some people develop gambling problems while others do not. A group of social gamblers (n = 38), sub-clinical problem gamblers (n = 33) and pathological gamblers (n = 34) completed a battery of questionnaires. Compared to non-problem gamblers, pathological gamblers were more likely to report experiencing big wins early in their gambling career, stressful life events, impulsivity, depression, using escape to cope with stress and a poorer understanding of random events. We grouped these variables into three risk factors: cognitive/experiential, emotional and impulsive and tested the extent to which each risk factor could differentiate non-problem and pathological gamblers. Each risk factor correctly identified about three-quarters of the pathological gamblers. More than half (53%) of the pathological gamblers had elevated scores on all three risk factors. Interestingly, 60% of the sub-clinical cases had elevated scores on only one risk factor. The results are interpreted in terms of a bio-psycho-social model of gambling addiction. |
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Keywords: | gambling control electronic gaming machines pathologlcal gambling motivation |
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