Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research

Factors associated with disordered gambling in Finland

Authors: Sari Castrén, Syaron Basnet, Anne H Salonen, Maiju Pankakoski, Jenni-Emilia Ronkainen, Hannu Alho, Tuuli Lahti

Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare the socio-demographic characteristics of non-problem gamblers, problem gamblers and pathological gamblers, to investigate the association between gambling related factors and perceived health and well-being among the three subgroups of gamblers, and to analyse simultaneously socio-demographic characteristics, gambling related factors and perceived health and well-being and the severity of disordered gambling (problem gamblers and pathological gamblers).

Methods

The data were collected through a nationwide telephone survey in 2011. Participants were selected through a random population sample of 15-74-year-old Finns. From that sample, persons with any past-year gambling involvement (N = 3451) were selected for a subsample for the descriptive and inferential analysis in the present paper. Gambling was assessed using the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Statistical significance was determined by chi-squared tests. The odds ratio and effect size were computed by using multivariate-adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Results

The most significant socio-demographic characteristics (male gender, young age, education ≤12 years), gambling related factors (slot machine gambling, internet gambling) and perceived health and well-being (feeling lonely, smoking daily, risky alcohol consumption, mental health problems) explained 22.9 per cent of the variation in the severity of disordered gambling.

Conclusion

Male gender and loneliness were found to be associated with problem gambling in particular, along with smoking and risky alcohol consumption. Mental health problems and risky alcohol consumption were associated with pathological gambling. These identified associations between disordered gambling, mental health problems and risky alcohol consumption should be taken into consideration when implementing screenings of disordered gambling.
Literature
1.
Petry NM: Internet gambling: an emerging concern in family practice medicine?. Fam Pract. 2006, 23: 421-426. 10.1093/fampra/cml005.CrossRefPubMed
2.
3.
National Research Council (NRC): Pathological gambling: a critical review. 1999, Washington, D.C: National Academy Press
4.
Grinols EL: Gambling in America: costs and benefits. 2004, Cambridge: Cambridge University PressCrossRef
5.
American Psychiatric Association (APA): Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 1994, Washington DC, 4
6.
Shaffer HJ, Hall MN, Vander BJ: Estimating the prevalence of disordered gambling behavior in the United States and Canada: a research synthesis. Am J Public Health. 1999, 89: 1369-1376. 10.2105/AJPH.89.9.1369.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
7.
Shaffer HJ, Hall MN: Updating and refining prevalence estimates of disordered gambling behavior in the United States and Canada. Can J Public Health. 2001, 92: 168-172.PubMed
8.
Welte JW, Barnes GM, Wieczorek WF, Tidwell MC, Parker J: Gambling participation in the U.S.—results from a national survey. J Gambl Stud. 2002, 18: 313-337. 10.1023/A:1021019915591.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Hodgins DC, Stea JN, Grant JE: Gambling disorders. Lancet. 2011, 378: 1874-1884. 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62185-X.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Williams RJ, Volberg RA, Stevens RMG: The population prevalence of problem gambling: methodological influences, standardized rates, jurisdictional differences, and worldwide trends. Report prepared for the Ontario problem gambling research centre and the Ontario ministry of health and long term care. May 8, 2012.http://​hdl.​handle.​net/​10133/​3068,
11.
Turja T, Halme J, Mervola M, Jarvinen-Tassopoulous J, Ronkainen JE: Suomalaisten rahapelaaminen 2011 [Finnish Gambling 2011]. 2011, Helsinki: National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Report 14/2012, [Finnish Gambling 2011]
12.
Ashley LL, Boehlke KK: Pathological gambling: a general overview. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2012, 44: 27-37. 10.1080/02791072.2012.662078.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Winters KC, Stinchfield R, Fulkerson J: Patterns and characteristics of adolescent gambling. J Gambl Stud. 1993, 9: 371-386. 10.1007/BF01014628.CrossRef
14.
Lund I: Lessons from the grey area: a closer inspection of at-risk gamblers. J Gambl Stud. 2007, 23: 409-419. 10.1007/s10899-007-9058-4.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Ladouceur R, Boudreault N, Jacques C, Vitaro F: Pathological gambling and related problems among adolescents. J Child & Adolesc Subst Abuse. 1999, 8: 55-68.CrossRef
16.
Lyk-Jensen SV: New evidence from the grey area: Danish results for at-risk gambling. J Gambl Stud. 2010, 2010 (26): 455-467.CrossRef
17.
Black DW, Moyer T: Clinical features and psychiatric comorbidity of subjects with pathological gambling behavior. Psychiatr Serv. 1998, 49: 1434-1439.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Cunningham-Williams RM, Cottler LB, Compton WM, Spitznagel EL: Taking chances: problem gamblers and mental health disorders–results from the St. Louis Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. Am J Public Health. 1998, 88: 1093-1096. 10.2105/AJPH.88.7.1093.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
19.
Roy A: Pathological gambling: a psychobiological study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988, 45: 369-373. 10.1001/archpsyc.1988.01800280085011.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Lorains FK, Colishaw S, Thomas SH: Prevalence of comorbid disorders in problem and pathological gambling: systematic review and meta-analysis of population surveys. Addiction. 2011, 106: 490-489. 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03300.x.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Volberg RA: The prevalence and demographics of pathological gamblers: implications for public health. Am J Public Health. 1994, 84: 237-241. 10.2105/AJPH.84.2.237.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
22.
Cambell F, Lester D: The impact of gambling opportunities on compulsive gambling. J Soc Psychol. 1999, 139: 126-127. 10.1080/00224549909598366.CrossRef
23.
Azmier J: Gambling in Canada 2005: statistics and context. 2005, Calgary: AB: Canada West Foundation
24.
Lesieur HR, Blume SB: The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): a new instrument for the identification of pathological gamblers. Am J Psychiatry. 1987, 144 (9): 1184-1188.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Bush K, Kivlahan DR, McDonell MB, Fihn SD, Bradley KA: The audit alcohol consumption questions (Audit-C): an effective brief screening test for problem drinking. Arch Intern Med. 1998, 158: 1789-1795. 10.1001/archinte.158.16.1789.CrossRefPubMed
26.
27.
Veit CT, Ware JE: The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1983, 51: 730-742.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Berwick DM, Murphy JM, Goldman PA, Ware JE, Barsky AJ, Weinstein MC: Performance of a five-item mental health screening test. Medical Care. 1991, 29: 169-176. 10.1097/00005650-199102000-00008.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Gerstein DR, Hoffmann JP, Larison C, Engelman L, Murphy S, Palmer A: Gambling impact and behavior study: report to the national gambling impact study commission. 1999, Chicago: National Opinion Research Center
30.
Ronnberg S, Volberg R, Abbott M, Moore L, Andén A, Munck I: Spel och spelberoende I sverige [Gambling problems in Sweden]. 1999, Stockholm: Fölkhäsoinstitutet, Report No.3 I
31.
Sproston K, Ernst B, Orford J: Gambling behaviour in Britain: results from the British gambling prevalence survey. 2000, London: National Centre for Social Research
32.
Gotestam KG, Johansson A: Characteristics of gambling and problematic gambling in the Norwegian context: a DSM-IV-based telephone interview study. Addict Behav. 2003, 28: 189-197. 10.1016/S0306-4603(01)00256-8.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Lund I: Gambling and problem gambling in Norway: what part does the gambling machine play?. Addiction Research & Theory. 2006, 14: 475-491. 10.1080/16066350600836825.CrossRef
34.
Blaszczynski AP, Buhrich N, McConaghy : Pathological gamblers, heroin addicts and controls compared on the E.P.Q. Addiction scale. Br J Addict. 1985, 80 (3): 315-319. 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1985.tb02545.x.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Nower L, Derevensky JL, Gupta R: The relationship of impulsivity, sensation seeking, coping, and substance Use in youth gamblers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviour. 2004, 1: 49-55.CrossRef
36.
Bonnaire C, Bungener C, Varescon I: Subtypes of French pathological gamblers: comparison of sensation seeking, alexithymia and depression scores. J Gambl Stud. 2009, 25: 455-471. 10.1007/s10899-009-9142-z.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Ladd G, Petry N: Gender differences among pathological gamblers seeking treatment. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2002, 10: 302-309.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Brown S, Coventry L: Queen of hearts: the needs of women with gambling problems. 1997, Melbourne, Australia: Financial and Consumer Rights Council
39.
Trevorrow K, Moore S: The association between loneliness, social isolation and women’s electronic gaming machine gambling. J Gambl Stud. 1998, 14: 263-284. 10.1023/A:1022057609568.CrossRef
40.
Volberg RA, Abbott MW, Rönnberg S, Munck IME: Prevalence and risks of pathological gambling in Sweden. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2001, 104: 250-256. 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2001.00336.x.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Williams RJ, Volberg RA: Impact of survey description, administration method, and exclusionary criteria on population prevalence rates of problem gambling. International Journal of Gambling Studies. 2009, 9: 101-117. 10.1080/14459790902911653.CrossRef
42.
Williams RJ, Volberg RA: Best practices in the population assessment of problem gambling. 2010, Guelph, Ontario: Report submitted to the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre
43.
Lahti T, Halme J, Pankakoski M, Sinclair D, Alho H: Characteristics of treatment seeking Finnish pathological gamblers: baseline data from a treatment study. Int J Ment Heal Addict. 2013, 11: 307-314. 10.1007/s11469-012-9411-4.CrossRef
44.
45.
Castrén S, Pankakoski M, Tamminen M, Lipsanen J, Ladouceur R, Lahti T: Internet-based CBT intervention for gamblers in Finland: experiences from the field. Scand J Psychol. 2013, 54: 230-235. 10.1111/sjop.12034.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Griffiths M, Wood R, Parke J, Parke A: Gaming research and best practice: gaming industry, social responsibility and academia. Casino and Gaming International. 2007, 3: 97-103.
47.
Rush B, Veldhuizen S, Adlaf E: Mapping the prevalence of problem gambling and its association with treatment accessibility and proximity to gambling venues. Journal of Gambling Issues. 2007, 20: 193-214.CrossRef
48.
Moore SM, Thomas AC, Kyrios M, Bates G, Meredyth D: Gambling accessibility: a scale to measure gambler preferences. J Gambl Stud. 2011, 27: 129-143. 10.1007/s10899-010-9203-3.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Breen H: Risk and protective factors associated with gambling products and services: indigenous gamblers in north Queensland. Int J Ment Health Addiction. 2012, 10: 24-38. 10.1007/s11469-010-9296-z.CrossRef
50.
Griffiths MD: Videogame addiction: fact or fiction? in Willoughby, T. & Wood, E. (Eds.). Children’s learning in a digital world (pp. 85–103). 2007, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing
51.
Griffiths M, Wood R, Parke J: Reducing addiction risk in developing online games. World Online Gambling Law Report. 2008, 7: 15-6.
52.
Griffiths M, Wood R: The psychology of lottery gambling. Int Gambl Stud. 2001, 1: 27-45. 10.1080/14459800108732286.CrossRef
53.
Blaszczynski A, McConaghy N, Frankova A: Boredom proneness in pathological gambling. Psychol Rep. 1990, 67: 35-42.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Tse S, Dyall L, Clarke D, Abbott M, Townsend S, Kingi P: Why people gamble: a qualitative study of four New Zealand ethnic groups. Int J Ment Health Addiction. 2012, 10: 849-61. 10.1007/s11469-012-9380-7.CrossRef
55.
Petry NM: Psychiatric symptoms in problem gambling and Non-problem gambling substance abusers. Am J Addict. 2010, 9: 163-171.CrossRef
56.
Sylvain C, Ladouceur R, Boisvert JM: Cognitive and behavioral treatment of pathological gambling: a controlled study. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1997, 65 (5): 727-32.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Toneatto T: Cognitive psychopathology of problem gambling. Subst Use Misuse. 1999, 11: 1593-1604.CrossRef
58.
Ladouceur R, Sylvain C, Boutin C, Doucet C: Understanding and treating pathological gamblers. 2002, London: Wiley
59.
Ladouceur R, Sylvain C, Boutin C, Lachance S, Doucet C, Leblond J: Group therapy for pathological gamblers: a cognitive approach. Behav Res Ther. 2003, 41 (5): 587-596. 10.1016/S0005-7967(02)00036-0.CrossRefPubMed
60.
Toneatto T, Ladoceur R: Treatment of pathological gambling: a critical review of the literature. Psychol Addict Behav. 2003, 17 (4): 284-292.CrossRefPubMed
61.
Petry NM, Ammerman Y, Bohl J, Doersch A, Gay H, Kadden R, Molina C, Steinberg K: Cognitive-behavioral therapy for pathological gamblers. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2006, 74 (3): 555-567.CrossRefPubMed
62.
Ladouceur R, Lachance S: Overcoming pathological gambling. 2007, Therapist guide. N.Y.: Oxford University Press
63.
64.
Blaszczynski A, Ladouceur R, Shaffer HJ: A science-based framework for responsible gambling: the Reno model. J Gambl Stud. 2004, 20: 301-317.CrossRefPubMed
65.
Griffths M: Gambling technologies: prospects for problem gambling. J Gambl Stud. 1999, 15: 265-283. 10.1023/A:1023053630588.CrossRef
66.
Cox BJ, Yu N, Afifi T, Ladouceur R: A national survey of gambling problems in Canada. Can J Psychiatry. 2005, 50: 213-217.PubMed
67.
Parke J, Griffths M: The psychology of fruit machine: the role of structural characteristics (revisited). Int J Ment Heal Addict. 2006, 4: 151-179. 10.1007/s11469-006-9014-z.CrossRef
68.
Marshall D: Gambling as a public health issue: The critical role of the local environment. Journal of Gambling Issues. 2009, 66-80.
69.
Adams PJ, Raeburn J, De Silva K: A question of balance: prioritizing public health responses to harm from gambling. Addiction. 2009, 104: 688-691. 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02414.x.CrossRefPubMed
70.
Caraniche Pty Ltd (Caraniche): Evaluation of Electronic Gaming Machine Harm Minimisation Measures in Victoria. 2005, Melbourne: Department of Justice (Victoria)
71.
Abbot MW, Volberg A: The measurement of adult problem and pathological gambling. Int Gambl Stud. 2006, 6 (2): 175-200. 10.1080/14459790600928678.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Factors associated with disordered gambling in Finland
Authors
Sari Castrén
Syaron Basnet
Anne H Salonen
Maiju Pankakoski
Jenni-Emilia Ronkainen
Hannu Alho
Tuuli Lahti
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1747-597X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-597X-8-24

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 1/2013 Go to the issue

Research

Factors associated with implementation of a multicomponent responsible beverage service program – results from two surveys in 290 Swedish municipalities

Review

Effectiveness of alcohol prevention interventions based on the principles of social marketing: a systematic review

Research

Factors associated with smoking among adolescent males prior to incarceration and after release from jail: a longitudinal study

Review

Brief intervention and decrease of alcohol consumption among women: a systematic review

Research

Structural barriers in the context of opiate substitution treatment in Germany - a survey among physicians in primary care

Short Report

Reductions in non-medical prescription opioid use among adults in Ontario, Canada: are recent policy interventions working?