Future directions for research into the psychological determinants of problem gambling patterns

Abstract

Rapid increases in the availability of gambling have led to an increased recognition of problem gambling as a major public health concern. A growing body of empirical research has contributed greatly to current knowledge; however, most has centered on prevalence and on risk factors for problem gambling. In this paper, the authors argue for the need to extend the investigative scope of the gambling studies field to improve understanding the natural course of problem gambling over time and to the identification of psychosocial determinants of gambling patterns. Elucidating these issues would constitute an important first step in refining preventive and therapeutic efforts toward curbing possible increases in problem gambling and attendant consequences. Important research areas and methodologies identified in this paper are: large‐scale prospective studies using repeated measures, investigations into factors that may protect from or facilitate progression to problem gambling, especially factors that may be amenable to change, and broadening research samples to community‐based regular gamblers, particularly subclinical (in transition) individuals.