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01-09-2016 | Original Paper

Problem Gambling Family Impacts: Development of the Problem Gambling Family Impact Scale

Authors: N. A. Dowling, A. Suomi, A. C. Jackson, T. Lavis

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 3/2016

Abstract

Although family members of problem gamblers frequently present to treatment services, problem gambling family impacts are under-researched. The most commonly endorsed items on a new measure of gambling-related family impacts [Problem Gambling Family Impact Measure (PG-FIM: Problem Gambler version)] by 212 treatment-seeking problem gamblers included trust (62.5 %), anger (61.8 %), depression or sadness (58.7 %), anxiety (57.7 %), distress due to gambling-related absences (56.1 %), reduced quality time (52.4 %), and communication breakdowns (52.4 %). The PG-FIM (Problem Gambler version) was comprised of three factors: (1) financial impacts, (2) increased responsibility impacts, and (3) psychosocial impacts with good psychometric properties. Younger, more impulsive, non-electronic gaming machine (EGM) gamblers who had more severe gambling problems reported more financial impacts; non-EGM gamblers with poorer general health reported more increased responsibility impacts; and more impulsive non-EGM gamblers with more psychological distress and higher gambling severity reported more psychosocial impacts. The findings have implications for the development of interventions for the family members of problem gamblers.

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Title: Problem Gambling Family Impacts: Development of the Problem Gambling Family Impact Scale
Authors: N. A. Dowling
A. Suomi
A. C. Jackson
T. Lavis
Publication date: 01-09-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 3/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-015-9582-6

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Problem Gambling Family Impacts: Development of the Problem Gambling Family Impact Scale

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