1
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Myles D, Carter A, Yücel M, Bode S. Losses disguised as wins evoke the reward positivity event-related potential in a simulated machine gambling task. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14541. [PMID: 38385660 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Electronic gambling machines include a suite of design characteristics that may contribute to gambling-related harms and require more careful attention of regulators and policymakers. One strategy that has contributed to these concerns is the presentation of "losses disguised as wins" (LDWs), a type of salient losing outcome in which a gambling payout is less than the amount wagered (i.e., a net loss), but is nonetheless accompanied by the celebratory audio-visual stimuli that typically accompany a genuine win. These events could thereby be mistaken for gains, or otherwise act as a reward signal, reinforcing persistent gambling, despite being a loss. This study aimed to determine whether LDWs evoke a reward positivity component in a task modeled on slot machine gambling. A prominent account of the reward positivity event-related potential suggests that it is evoked during the positive appraisal of task-related feedback, relative to neutral or negative events, or that it is evoked by neural systems that implement the computation of a positive reward prediction error. We recruited 32 individuals from university recruitment pools and asked them to engage in a simple gambling task designed to mimic key features of a slot machine design. The reward positivity was identified using temporospatial principal components analysis. Results indicated a more positive reward positivity following LDWs relative to clear losses, consistent with the theory that LDWs contribute to positive reinforcement of continued gambling, despite being net losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Myles
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adrian Carter
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Murat Yücel
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stefan Bode
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Corbeil O, Anderson É, Béchard L, Desmeules C, Huot-Lavoie M, Bachand L, Brodeur S, Carmichael PH, Jacques C, Solmi M, Giroux I, Dorval M, Demers MF, Roy MA. Problem gambling in psychotic disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2024; 149:445-457. [PMID: 38566334 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Problem gambling (PBG) is more common in people with mental health disorders, including substance use, bipolar, and personality disorders, than in the general population. Although individuals with psychotic disorders might be expected to be more vulnerable to PBG, fewer studies have focused on this comorbidity. The aim of this review was to estimate the prevalence of PBG in people with psychotic disorders. METHODS Medline (Ovid), EMBASE, PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of science, and ProQuest were searched on November 1, 2023, without language restrictions. Observational and experimental studies including individuals with psychotic disorders and reporting the prevalence of PBG were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal for systematic reviews of prevalence data. The pooled prevalence of PBG was calculated using a fixed effects generalized linear mixed model and presented through forest plots. RESULTS Of 1271 records screened, 12 studies (n = 3443) were included. The overall prevalence of PBG was 8.7% (95% CI = 7.8%-9.7%, I2 = 69%). A lower prevalence was found in studies with a low risk of bias (5.6%; 95% CI = 4.4%-7.0%) compared with studies with a moderate risk of bias (10.4%; 95% CI = 9.2%-11.7%). Different methods used to assess PBG also contributed to the heterogeneity found. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis found substantial heterogeneity, partly due to the risk of bias of the included studies and a lack of uniformity in PBG assessment. Although more research is needed to identify those at increased risk for PBG, its relatively high prevalence warrants routine screening for gambling in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Corbeil
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Quebec Mental Health University Institute, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Élizabeth Anderson
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laurent Béchard
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Quebec Mental Health University Institute, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Charles Desmeules
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maxime Huot-Lavoie
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Sébastien Brodeur
- Quebec Mental Health University Institute, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Christian Jacques
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Centre Québécois d'Excellence pour la Prévention et le Traitement du Jeu, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marco Solmi
- SCIENCES Lab, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Regional Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders and On Track: The Champlain First Episode Psychosis Program, Department of Mental Health, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) Clinical Epidemiology Program, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabelle Giroux
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Centre Québécois d'Excellence pour la Prévention et le Traitement du Jeu, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michel Dorval
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- CHU de Québec - Université Laval Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie-France Demers
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Quebec Mental Health University Institute, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Roy
- Quebec Mental Health University Institute, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
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Freinhofer D, Schwartenbeck P, Thon N, Aichhorn W, Lenger M, Wurst FM, Kronbichler M. Loss, gain and choice difficulty in gambling patients: Neural and behavioural processes. Addict Biol 2024; 29:e13396. [PMID: 38733092 PMCID: PMC11087675 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Impaired decision-making is often displayed by individuals suffering from gambling disorder (GD). Since there are a variety of different phenomena influencing decision-making, we focused in this study on the effects of GD on neural and behavioural processes related to loss aversion and choice difficulty. Behavioural responses as well as brain images of 23 patients with GD and 20 controls were recorded while they completed a mixed gambles task, where they had to decide to either accept or reject gambles with different amounts of potential gain and loss. We found no behavioural loss aversion in either group and no group differences regarding loss and gain-related choice behaviour, but there was a weaker relation between choice difficulty and decision time in patients with GD. Similarly, we observed no group differences in processing of losses or gains, but choice difficulty was weaker associated with brain activity in the right anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex in patients with GD. Our results showed for the first time the effects of GD on neural processes related to choice difficulty. In addition, our findings on choice difficulty give new insights on the psychopathology of GD and on neural processes related to impaired decision-making in GD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Freinhofer
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of PsychologyUniversity of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
| | - Philipp Schwartenbeck
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of PsychologyUniversity of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
- Neuroscience InstituteChristian‐Doppler Medical CentreParacelsus Medical University SalzburgSalzburgAustria
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human NeuroimagingUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the BrainNuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Natasha Thon
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and PsychosomaticsChristian‐Doppler Medical CentreParacelsus Medical UniversitySalzburgAustria
| | - Wolfgang Aichhorn
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and PsychosomaticsChristian‐Doppler Medical CentreParacelsus Medical UniversitySalzburgAustria
| | - Melanie Lenger
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of PsychologyUniversity of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
- Department for Psychiatry and PsychotherapyMedical University of GrazGrazAustria
| | - Friedrich M. Wurst
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and PsychosomaticsChristian‐Doppler Medical CentreParacelsus Medical UniversitySalzburgAustria
- Medical Faculty and Psychiatric University HospitalUniversity BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Martin Kronbichler
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of PsychologyUniversity of SalzburgSalzburgAustria
- Neuroscience InstituteChristian‐Doppler Medical CentreParacelsus Medical University SalzburgSalzburgAustria
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4
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Zhang K, Rights JD, Deng X, Lesch T, Clark L. Between-session chasing of losses and wins in an online eCasino. J Behav Addict 2024. [PMID: 38656799 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2024.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and aims This study characterized chasing behaviour as the time to return to an online gambling website after a losing or a winning visit. Methods We analyzed a naturalistic dataset from an eCasino (PlayNow.com, the provincial platform for British Columbia, Canada), comprising 1,909,681 sessions from 15,544 individuals. Analyses distinguished sessions on slot machines, blackjack, roulette, video poker, probability games, or mixed-category sessions. Results Overall, gamblers on most games returned more slowly as a function of the prior loss, and more quickly as a function of the prior win. Loss chasing intensities in blackjack, probability, video poker, and mixed sessions did not differ significantly from slot machines, but roulette was associated with shorter intervals to return (b = -0.13, p < 0.001). Similarly, win chasing did not vary across slot machines, blackjack, probability games, and video poker, but roulette (b = -0.08, p < 0.001) and mixed (b = -0.02, p = 0.009) sessions were associated with shorter intervals. Discussion and conclusions The average behavioural patterns provide limited evidence for loss chasing but clearly indicate win chasing. Although slot machines are commonly considered a high-risk product, roulette in our analyses was associated with the greatest chasing intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhang
- 1Department of Psychology, Centre for Gambling Research at UBC, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jason D Rights
- 2The Rights Lab, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Xiaolei Deng
- 1Department of Psychology, Centre for Gambling Research at UBC, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Tilman Lesch
- 1Department of Psychology, Centre for Gambling Research at UBC, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Luke Clark
- 1Department of Psychology, Centre for Gambling Research at UBC, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- 3Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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5
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Palomäki J, Kunnari A, Laakasuo M. 'Return to player' information given to gamblers is unintuitive, misleading and often incorrect. Addiction 2024. [PMID: 38616045 DOI: 10.1111/add.16505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Palomäki
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anton Kunnari
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael Laakasuo
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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6
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Bradt L, Grosemans E, De Cock R, Dupont B, Vansteenkiste M, Soenens B. Does parents' perceived style of setting limits to gaming matter? The interplay between profiles of parental mediation and BIS/BAS sensitivity in problematic gaming and online gambling. J Adolesc 2024; 96:580-597. [PMID: 37968846 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Parents try to prevent possible negative outcomes associated with gaming by setting rules on their adolescent's gaming behavior (i.e., restrictive mediation). Parents can use either more autonomy-supportive or more controlling styles to communicate those rules. Using a person-centered approach, this study aims to, first, identify profiles of parents' perceived degree of restrictive mediation in gaming and styles of communicating these rules (i.e., autonomy-supportive and controlling); second, to examine how adolescents in different profiles differ in terms of maladaptive gaming outcomes (i.e., problematic gaming, simulated, and online gambling); third, to investigate the moderating role of gaming frequency and adolescents' personality (i.e., behavioral inhibition system [BIS] sensitivity and behavioral activation system [BAS] sensitivity) in the associations between the parental profiles and the outcomes. METHODS The study used quantitative, cross-sectional survey data from Belgian adolescents (N = 1651, mean age = 14.00 years, 51.2% boys), collected between November 2021 and February 2022 in schools. RESULTS Cluster analysis yielded four profiles of perceived restrictive mediation: an exclusively controlling one, an autonomy-supportive one, one where parents used a perceived mix of both communication styles, and one where there was an overall perceived lack of restrictive mediation. Adolescents in the controlling profile displayed the most maladaptive outcomes. Some of the associations between the parental profiles and the outcomes were stronger for more frequent gamers and for adolescents scoring higher on both BIS and BAS sensitivity. CONCLUSION Associations between the parental profiles and gaming outcomes were theoretically meaningful, yet small in terms of effect size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lowie Bradt
- Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eva Grosemans
- Institute for Media Studies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Bruno Dupont
- Institute for Media Studies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Vansteenkiste
- Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Soenens
- Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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7
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Marionneau V, Järvinen-Tassopoulos J. Individuals with a migratory background can offer valuable insight to improve the treatment and prevention of gambling harms. Nordisk Alkohol Nark 2024; 41:226-234. [PMID: 38645970 PMCID: PMC11027849 DOI: 10.1177/14550725231212799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Migration is a risk factor for gambling-related harms. Little research has been conducted on gambling and gambling harms among migrant groups in Finland, but there are indications that gambling participation is high among migrants also in this context. Russian speakers constitute the largest migrant group in Finland. This study focuses on the experiences and views of Russian speakers in Finland on the Finnish gambling system and its relationship to gambling harms. The study is based on the results of qualitative data collected on gambling experiences among Russian-speaking residents of Finland. The data consist of an online survey directed at individuals who gamble (N = 26) and interviews conducted among family members of those gambling (N = 3). Russian speakers in Finland view gambling as highly normalised in the Finnish society. This normalisation reinforced by availability, accessibility, and state involvement. Russian speakers also have perspective on how to better prevent and treat gambling harms in Finland. Involving migrants with experience of different gambling systems can provide critical insight on established practices in gambling systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virve Marionneau
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Helsingin yliopisto, Helsinki, Finland
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8
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Romero P, Czakó A, van den Brink W, Demetrovics Z. Psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with gambling disorder? J Behav Addict 2024; 13:6-11. [PMID: 38421388 PMCID: PMC10988418 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2024.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Gambling disorder is a severe mental health and behavioural problem with harmful consequences, including financial, relationship and mental health problems. The present paper initiates discussion on the use of psychedelics combined with psychotherapeutic support as a potential treatment option for people living with a gambling disorder. Recent studies have shown promising results using psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) to treat anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and various substance use disorders. Considering the similarities in the underlying psychosocial and neurobiological mechanisms of gambling disorder and other addictive disorders, the authors suggest that psychedelic-assisted therapy could be effective in treating gambling disorder. The paper also underscores the need for further research into the viability and effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy for gambling disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Romero
- Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, Gibraltar
| | - Andrea Czakó
- Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, Gibraltar
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Wim van den Brink
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zsolt Demetrovics
- Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar, Gibraltar
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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9
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De Jans S, Hudders L, Newall P. Gambling advertising still exists in Belgium despite a widely reported 'ban'. Addiction 2024. [PMID: 38433492 DOI: 10.1111/add.16458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Steffi De Jans
- Department of Communication Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liselot Hudders
- Department of Communication Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Philip Newall
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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10
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Yockey RA. Psychosocial Factors Associated With Past Month Gambling Among Adolescents: Results From the 2016-2020 PRIDE Survey. Health Promot Pract 2024; 25:213-219. [PMID: 36367292 DOI: 10.1177/15248399221135101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The present study sought to identify psychosocial factors associated with recent gambling (gambling within the past 30 days). The 2016, 2018, and 2020 Parents' Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE) data sets were pooled and analyzed, consisting of 108,690 adolescents in 13 local public schools. A sizable percentage (13.1%) of adolescents reported gambling in the past 30 days. Multiple logistic regression analyses found differences based on demographic factors, previous substance use, and psychosocial factors. Adolescents at highest risk were male, non-White, in high school; sold drugs; and participated in violent activities in the past 30 days. The study also found worrying rates of substance use. Findings from the present study can inform harm reduction efforts, prevention messaging, and clinical interventions related to adolescent gambling.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Andrew Yockey
- The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
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11
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Ferro L, Monaci MG, Scacchi L. Emotions and motivations of gambling: A comparison between scratch card, slot-machines, and casino gamblers. Brain Behav 2024; 14:e3416. [PMID: 38450588 PMCID: PMC10918595 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the last 20 years, gambling has become more and more widespread in Italy. The aim of the present study is to compare the motivations for gambling and the emotions felt while gambling in three different subgroups: scratch card gamblers, slot-machine gamblers, and casino gamblers. METHODS Three versions of a questionnaire have been distributed in a casino, in scratch card vendors, and slot-machines venues. All versions included sociodemographic variables, the two-question Lie-Bet instrument, a scale for motivations toward gambling, and a list of positive and negative emotions felt while gambling. RESULTS Participants (N = 425, F 47.5%) are gamblers potentially pathological (N = 162, 38.1%) and not (N = 263, 61.9%). Different games seem connected to different motivations and emotions: the scratch gamblers show less Coping and Social Motivation and experience less Negative Emotion. However, the motivation and emotion most intensely experienced by the gamblers (Enhancement and the Positive Emotions) do not show differences between the different types of games. CONCLUSION The pathological gamblers have a more intense and internal connection with the game (have more Enhancement and Coping motives, Positive and Negative Emotion). In sum, our findings support the theoretical hypothesis that gambling can be a tool for regulating emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ferro
- Department of Social and Human Sciences (SHS)University of Aosta ValleyAostaItaly
| | - Maria Grazia Monaci
- Department of Social and Human Sciences (SHS)University of Aosta ValleyAostaItaly
| | - Luca Scacchi
- Department of Social and Human Sciences (SHS)University of Aosta ValleyAostaItaly
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12
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Cunningham JA, Limaksorn J. Perceptions of the Seriousness of Different Addictive Behaviors in the United Kingdom. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:1067-1071. [PMID: 38419184 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2320375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Background: Societal beliefs about the seriousness of different addictions were assessed in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods: An online panel, conducted in 2021 and sampled to be representative of the UK general population 18 years and over (N = 1499), was conducted and asked participants their views regarding the seriousness of different societal problems, including various addictive behaviors. Results: Cannabis was ranked as the least serious of the addictive behaviors. Other illicit drug use (cocaine, amphetamine, heroin) was rated as the most serious of addictive behaviors. None of the addictive behaviors were rated as being as serious a problem to society as environmental damage, violent crime, poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Ratings of cannabis use were not as expected and stand in contrast to the current UK policy on cannabis use. In addition, the UK policy on alcohol consumption contrasts with societal concerns about alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Cunningham
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jirapart Limaksorn
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
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13
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Adams PJ, Gregan MJ. Moral jeopardy, conflicts of interest and the integrity of public health research. Int J Epidemiol 2024; 53:dyae023. [PMID: 38374718 PMCID: PMC10877091 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyae023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Adams
- Centre for Addiction Research, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Melissa-Jade Gregan
- Centre for Addiction Research, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
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14
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Dowson M, Wohl MJA. The Long Shadow of Addiction-Related Nostalgia: Nostalgia Predicts Ambivalence and Undermines the Benefits of Optimism in Recovery. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:989-998. [PMID: 38353636 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2310502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Background: Previous research has shown that nostalgia for the pre-addicted self can motivate people living with addiction to engage in behavior change. Objective: Herein, we explored nostalgia for the addictive behavior-labeled addiction-related nostalgia (ARN)-among people in recovery from engaging in addictive behavior. We tested the novel idea that ARN is positively associated with ambivalence about recovery. We also hypothesized that ARN may counteract the positive influence of optimism on individuals' commitment to recovery. Results: In two studies involving individuals in recovery from a gambling (Study 1; N=301) or alcohol use disorder (Study 2; N=604), ARN was linked to increased ambivalence about recovery, while optimism was associated with decreased ambivalence. As expected, the interaction between optimism and ARN revealed that nostalgia either eliminated (Study 1) or reduced (Study 2) the negative relation between optimism and ambivalence. Conclusions: These findings underscore the challenges posed by ARN in the recovery process and emphasize the importance of interventions that address and mitigate its impact while considering the moderating role of optimism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie Dowson
- Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael J A Wohl
- Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Mental Health and Well-Being Research and Training Hub, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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15
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Jonsson J, Carlbring P, Lindner P. Offering an auto-play feature likely increases total gambling activity at online slot-machines: preliminary evidence from an interrupted time series experiment at a real-life online casino. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1340104. [PMID: 38370561 PMCID: PMC10869439 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1340104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Auto-play is a ubiquitous feature in online casino gambling and virtual slot machines especially, allowing gamblers to initiate spin sequences of pre-set length and value. While theoretical accounts diverge on the hypothesized causal effect on gambling behavior of using the auto-play feature, observational findings show that this feature is used to a higher degree by problem and/or high-intensity gamblers, suggesting that banning this feature may constitute a global responsible gambling measure. Direct, experimental research on causal effects of offering auto-play at online casinos is however lacking. Here, we report the findings of an interrupted time series experiment, conducted at a real-life online casino in Sweden, in which the auto-play feature was made available during a pre-set duration on 40 online slot machines, with 40 matched slots serving as control. Aggregated time series on daily betted amount, spins and net losses were analyzed using a structural Bayesian framework that compared observed developments during the peri-intervention period to modeled counterfactual estimates. Results suggest that offering an auto-play feature on online casinos likely increases total gambling activity in terms of betted amount (approx.+ 7-9%) and (perhaps) number of spins (approx. +3%) but has no effect on net losses. Limitations of studying auto-play effects on a population-level, as well as the complexities of banning this feature within a complex ecosystem of non-perfect channelization to licensed providers, are discussed, including suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Jonsson
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Carlbring
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philip Lindner
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Pitt H, McCarthy S, Randle M, Daube M, Thomas SL. Young people's views about the use of celebrities and social media influencers in gambling marketing. Health Promot Int 2024; 39:daae012. [PMID: 38341758 PMCID: PMC10859070 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daae012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Young people's exposure to gambling marketing has had a clear impact on their gambling attitudes, risk perceptions and consumption intentions. Celebrities and social media influencers (SMIs) are increasingly used by the gambling industry in a wide range of promotions. While there is evidence that these types of promotions are influential in shaping young people's attitudes towards other harmful products, there is limited evidence in relation to gambling. Qualitative focus groups (n = 22) with n = 64, 12-17 year olds were conducted in Australia. These investigated young people's exposure to celebrity and SMI marketing for gambling and the influence they perceived this marketing had on young people's gambling attitudes. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to construct four themes from the data. First, young people perceived that celebrities and SMIs created additional appeal and recall of gambling advertisements because they were attention grabbing and familiar. Second, young people thought that celebrities and SMIs increased the trust, legitimacy and social acceptance of gambling. Third, the use of celebrities and SMIs lowered the perceptions of risk associated with gambling. Lastly, there were suggestions to reduce the impact of celebrity and SMI gambling promotions on young people, such as bans and restrictions. This study highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to preventing young people's exposure to gambling marketing, that not only considers imposing stronger regulations to restrict the way the gambling industry is allowed to promote its products, but also aims to counter the novel ways the gambling industry attempts to appeal to children and young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Pitt
- Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked bag 20000, Geelong, Vic 3220, Australia
| | - Simone McCarthy
- Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked bag 20000, Geelong, Vic 3220, Australia
| | - Melanie Randle
- Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Mike Daube
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Samantha L Thomas
- Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Locked bag 20000, Geelong, Vic 3220, Australia
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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17
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Sohn YS, Son H. Online Gambling Patterns and Predictors of Problem Gambling Among Korean Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study. Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci) 2024; 18:20-27. [PMID: 38244980 DOI: 10.1016/j.anr.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study examined online gambling patterns among Korean adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified predictors of problem gambling based on a socio-ecological model. METHODS It used nationally representative data from the 2020 National Survey on Youth Gambling Problems conducted by the Korea Center on Gambling Problems. This study selected a sample of 780 adolescents aged 13-18 years who reported having gambled online at least once in the last three months from the raw data of respondents. They were classified as the non-problem group and problem group according to the Gambling Problems Severity Scale (GPSS) of the Canadian Adolescent Gambling Inventory (CAGI). The predictive factors of problem gambling were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The prevalence of problem gambling was 24.6 %. Its predictors included intrapersonal [male (odds ratios, OR = 1.67); gambling prior to COVID-19 (OR = 2.08)] and interpersonal factors [frequent gamblers in peers (OR = 4.34); peer pressure (OR = 2.34)]. Social factors, such as gambling in online community (OR = 5.60), sports betting (OR = 53.24), and lotteries (OR = 17.03) were associated with problem gambling. CONCLUSIONS The major predictors of problem gambling among adolescent online gamblers included peer gambling and specific types of gambling. To prevent problem gambling, strategies targeting peer groups are essential. In addition, nurses need to share with families, schools, communities, and policymakers that online gambling, such as lotteries and sports betting, are high-risk of adolescent problem gambling, and recommend them to collaborate for stricter regulatory measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Sil Sohn
- College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunmi Son
- College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Pusan National University, Republic of Korea.
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18
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Vicente-Gabriel S, Lugones-Sánchez C, Tamayo-Morales O, Vicente Prieto A, González-Sánchez S, Conde Martín S, Gómez-Sánchez M, Rodríguez-Sánchez E, García-Ortiz L, Gómez-Sánchez L, Gómez-Marcos MA. Relationship between addictions and obesity, physical activity and vascular aging in young adults (EVA-Adic study): a research protocol of a cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1322437. [PMID: 38344236 PMCID: PMC10853417 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1322437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Behavioral and substance addictions are prevalent health problems that, alongside obesity, are linked to reduced physical activity and increased sedentary time. Similarly, arterial stiffness and vascular aging are processes that begin gradually at an early age and are closely associated with morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. The main objective of this study is to analyze how addictions are related to obesity and body fat distribution, physical activity, sedentary time, arterial stiffness and vascular aging, as well as sleep quality, cognitive function and gender differences in young adults aged between 18 and 34 years. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive observational study will analyze data from 500 subjects (250 men and 250 women) aged 18-34 without cardiovascular disease, selected by simple random sampling with replacement from the urban population of the city center of Salamanca (34,044 people aged 18-34, with 18,450 women and 15,594 men). Behavioral and substance addictions, as well as sleep quality and cognitive impairment will be assessed using questionnaires. The Pittisburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) will be used to measure sleep quality and the Ford questionnaire will be used to measure insomnia in response to stress. For obesity, weight, height, waist and hip circumference, body composition will be measured with the Inbody 230® impedance meter. For physical activity and sedentary time, we will use the Actigraph® accelerometer alongside the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Marshall questionnaire. The Sphygmocor System® will be used for pulse wave analysis and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), while the Vasera VS-2000® will measure cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Vascular aging will be calculated with the 10th and 90th percentiles of cfPWV or baPWV. Demographic, analytical variables will be collected, as will data to assess vascular, cardiac, renal, and brain injury. Discussion Addictions are on the rise in today's society, affecting the mental health and well-being of those who suffer from them, generating important social problems such as job loss, family dysfunction, debt and social isolation. Together with obesity, they are prevalent health problems in young adults and are associated with lower physical activity and higher sedentary time. Meanwhile, arterial stiffness and vascular aging are processes that begin gradually at an early age and determine morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases. The results of this project will allow us to understand the situation regarding behavioral and substance addictions in young adults. Better understanding of these addictions will in turn facilitate the development of more effective prevention strategies and intervention programs, which can then reduce the negative impact at both the individual and societal levels. Clinical trial registration [ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT05819840].
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vicente-Gabriel
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Intensive Care Unit, Salamanca University Hospital, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Cristina Lugones-Sánchez
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Salamanca Primary Care Management, Castilla and León Health Service–SACYL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Olaya Tamayo-Morales
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Vicente Prieto
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Salamanca Primary Care Management, Castilla and León Health Service–SACYL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Susana González-Sánchez
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Conde Martín
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Salamanca Primary Care Management, Castilla and León Health Service–SACYL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marta Gómez-Sánchez
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Home Hospitalization Unit, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain
| | - Emiliano Rodríguez-Sánchez
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Salamanca Primary Care Management, Castilla and León Health Service–SACYL, Salamanca, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Luis García-Ortiz
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Salamanca Primary Care Management, Castilla and León Health Service–SACYL, Salamanca, Spain
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Leticia Gómez-Sánchez
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Emergency Department, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel A. Gómez-Marcos
- Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Salamanca Primary Care Management, Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Salamanca Primary Care Management, Castilla and León Health Service–SACYL, Salamanca, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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19
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Jiang L, Wang G, Zhang S, Ye J, He R, Chen B, Si Y, Yao D, Yu J, Wan F, Xu P, Yu L, Li F. Feedback-related brain activity in individual decision: evidence from a gambling EEG study. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad430. [PMID: 37950878 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, based on scalp electroencephalogram (EEG), we conducted cortical source localization and functional network analyses to investigate the underlying mechanism explaining the decision processes when individuals anticipate maximizing gambling benefits, particularly in situations where the decision outcomes are inconsistent with the profit goals. The findings shed light on the feedback monitoring process, wherein incongruity between outcomes and gambling goals triggers a more pronounced medial frontal negativity and activates the frontal lobe. Moreover, long-range theta connectivity is implicated in processing surprise and uncertainty caused by inconsistent feedback conditions, while middle-range delta coupling reflects a more intricate evaluation of feedback outcomes, which subsequently modifies individual decision-making for optimizing future rewards. Collectively, these findings deepen our comprehension of decision-making under circumstances where the profit goals are compromised by decision outcomes and provide electrophysiological evidence supporting adaptive adjustments in individual decision strategies to achieve maximum benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Guangying Wang
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Silai Zhang
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Jiayu Ye
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Runyang He
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Baodan Chen
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Yajing Si
- School of Psychology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Dezhong Yao
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Research Unit of NeuroInformation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 2019RU035, China
- School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jing Yu
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Feng Wan
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Peng Xu
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Research Unit of NeuroInformation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 2019RU035, China
- Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610042, China
- Rehabilitation Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Liang Yu
- Department of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Fali Li
- MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Research Unit of NeuroInformation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 2019RU035, China
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
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20
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Spicer SG, Close J, Nicklin LL, Uther M, Whalley B, Fullwood C, Parke J, Lloyd J, Lloyd H. Exploring the relationships between psychological variables and loot box engagement, part 2: exploratory analyses of complex relationships. R Soc Open Sci 2024; 11:231046. [PMID: 38179078 PMCID: PMC10762439 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
In a pre-registered survey linked to this paper (Exploring the relationships between psychological variables and loot box engagement, part 1: pre-registered hypotheses), we confirmed bivariate associations between engagement with loot boxes (purchasable randomized rewards in video games) and measures of problem gambling, problem video gaming, impulsivity, gambling cognitions, experiences of game-related 'flow', psychological distress and reduced wellbeing. However, these variables have complex relationships, so to gain further insights, we analysed the dataset (1495 gamers who purchase loot boxes and 1223 purchasers of non-randomized content) in a series of Bayesian mixed-effects multiple regressions with a zero-inflation component. The results challenge some well-established results in the literature, including associations between loot box engagement and problematic gambling measures, instead suggesting that this relationship might be underpinned by shared variance with problem video gaming and gambling-related cognitions. An entirely novel discovery revealed a complex interaction between experiences of flow and loot box engagement. Distress and wellbeing are both (somewhat contradictorily) predictive of participants engaging with loot boxes, but neither correlate with increasing loot box risky engagement/spend (among those who engage). Our findings unravel some of the nuances underpinning loot box engagement, yet remain consistent with narratives that policy action on loot boxes will have benefits for harm minimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart Gordon Spicer
- Community and Primary Care Research Group (CPCRG), ITTC Building, Davy Road, Plymouth Science Park, Derriford, Plymouth PL6 8BX, UK
| | - James Close
- Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health), University of Plymouth, Plymouth Devon PL4 8AA, UK
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Laura Louise Nicklin
- School of Education, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WS1 3BD, UK
| | - Maria Uther
- Enterprise and Innovation, Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Seacole Building, Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, UK
| | - Ben Whalley
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth Devon PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Chris Fullwood
- School of Natural, Sport and Social Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK
| | | | - Joanne Lloyd
- Cyberpsychology Research Group, School of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Helen Lloyd
- Enterprise and Innovation, Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Seacole Building, Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, UK
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21
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Russell AMT, Hing N, Newall P, Greer N, Dittman CK, Thorne H, Rockloff M. Order of first-play in simulated versus monetary gambling. J Behav Addict 2023; 12:992-1005. [PMID: 38032384 PMCID: PMC10786233 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2023.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Simulated gambling products, like loot boxes and social casino games, contain gambling elements, but are not classified as gambling. They are available to minors, raising concerns about a "gateway effect" into gambling. This study examined the time course of young people's engagement in simulated and monetary gambling, and associations between simulated gambling and gambling problems and harm. A necessary, although not sufficient, condition for simulated games leading to real money gambling is that simulated play must come first. Method Participants were 1,026 young adults (aged 18-25 years) who played video games in the last year. They reported the age at which they first took part in seven simulated and twelve monetary gambling products, and current gambling problems and harm. Results First use of loot boxes and video games with gambling content tended to precede monetary gambling. Forms where gambling is a core gameplay element, such as social casino and demonstration games, tended to follow some monetary gambling forms. Engagement in most simulated gambling products was associated with greater harm from monetary gambling. Discussion The findings leave open the possibility of a catalyst pathway from youth engagement in loot boxes and games with gambling content to later monetary gambling, but causal psychosocial mechanisms remain unclear. However, a pathway from social casino and demonstration games to monetary gambling appears less likely, which may instead reflect containment or substitution effects. Simulated gambling disproportionately attracts youth who are vulnerable to gambling problems and harm, indicating the need for consumer protection measures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nerilee Hing
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, CQUniversity, Australia
| | - Philip Newall
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, CQUniversity, Australia
- University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Nancy Greer
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, CQUniversity, Australia
| | | | - Hannah Thorne
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, CQUniversity, Australia
| | - Matthew Rockloff
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, CQUniversity, Australia
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22
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Eben C, Bőthe B, Brevers D, Clark L, Grubbs JB, Heirene R, Kräplin A, Lewczuk K, Palmer L, Perales JC, Peters J, van Holst RJ, Billieux J. The landscape of open science in behavioral addiction research: Current practices and future directions. J Behav Addict 2023; 12:862-870. [PMID: 38141055 PMCID: PMC10786235 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2023.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Open science refers to a set of practices that aim to make scientific research more transparent, accessible, and reproducible, including pre-registration of study protocols, sharing of data and materials, the use of transparent research methods, and open access publishing. In this commentary, we describe and evaluate the current state of open science practices in behavioral addiction research. We highlight the specific value of open science practices for the field; discuss recent field-specific meta-scientific reviews that show the adoption of such practices remains in its infancy; address the challenges to engaging with open science; and make recommendations for how researchers, journals, and scientific institutions can work to overcome these challenges and promote high-quality, transparently reported behavioral addiction research. By collaboratively promoting open science practices, the field can create a more sustainable and productive research environment that benefits both the scientific community and society as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Eben
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent
University, GhentBelgium
| | - Beáta Bőthe
- Département de Psychologie, Université de
Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Damien Brevers
- Louvain for Experimental Psychopathology
Research Group (LEP), Psychological Sciences Research Institute,
UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve,
Belgium
| | - Luke Clark
- Centre for Gambling Research at UBC,
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.,
Canada
| | - Joshua B. Grubbs
- Department of Psychology, University of New
Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Center for Alcohol, Substance Use, And
Addiction (CASAA), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque,
NM, USA
| | - Robert Heirene
- School of Psychology, University of
Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Anja Kräplin
- Faculty of Psychology, Technische
Universität Dresden, Dresden,
Germany
| | - Karol Lewczuk
- Institute of Psychology, Cardinal Stefan
Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Warsaw,
Poland
| | - Lucas Palmer
- Centre for Gambling Research at UBC,
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
| | - José C. Perales
- Department of Experimental Psychology;
Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of
Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jan Peters
- Department of Psychology, Biological
Psychology, University of Cologne, Cologne,
Germany
| | - Ruth J. van Holst
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC
-University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
- Center for Urban Mental Health, University
of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
| | - Joël Billieux
- Institute of Psychology, University of
Lausanne, Lausanne,
Switzerland
- Center for Excessive Gambling, Addiction
Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV),
Lausanne, Switzerland
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23
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Torrance J, Heath C, Andrade M, Newall P. Gambling, cryptocurrency, and financial trading app marketing in English Premier League football: A frequency analysis of in-game logos. J Behav Addict 2023; 12:972-982. [PMID: 38015231 PMCID: PMC10786225 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2023.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & aims The gamblification of UK football has resulted in a proliferation of in-game marketing associated with gambling and gambling-like products such as cryptocurrencies and financial trading apps. The English Premier League (EPL) has in response banned gambling logos on shirt-fronts from 2026 onward. This ban does not affect other types of marketing for gambling (e.g., sleeves and pitch-side hoardings), nor gambling-like products. This study therefore aimed to assess the ban's implied overall reduction of different types of marketing exposure. Methods We performed a frequency analysis of logos associated with gambling, cryptocurrency, and financial trading across 10 broadcasts from the 2022/23 EPL season. For each relevant logo, we coded: the marketed product, associated brand, number of individual logos, logo location, logo duration, and whether harm-reduction content was present. Results There were 20,941 relevant logos across the 10 broadcasts, of which 13,427 (64.1%) were for gambling only, 2,236 (10.7%) were for both gambling and cryptocurrency, 2,014 (9.6%) were for cryptocurrency only, 2,068 (9.9%) were for both cryptocurrency and financial trading, and 1,196 (5.7%) were for financial trading only. There were 1,075 shirt-front gambling-associated logos, representing 6.9% of all gambling-associated logos, and 5.1% of all logos combined. Pitch-side hoardings were the most frequent marketing location (52.3%), and 3.4% of logos contained harm-reduction content. Discussion & Conclusions Brand logos associated with gambling, cryptocurrency, and financial trading are common within EPL broadcasts. Approximately 1 in 20 gambling and gambling-like logos are subject to the EPL's voluntary ban on shirt-front gambling sponsorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Torrance
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, UK
- School of Psychology, University of Chester, UK
- School of Psychology, University Centre Shrewsbury, UK
| | - Conor Heath
- School of Psychology, University of Chester, UK
- School of Psychology, University Centre Shrewsbury, UK
| | - Maira Andrade
- School of Psychology, University of East London, UK
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Philip Newall
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, UK
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQ University, Australia
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Houghton S, Boy F, Bradley A, James R, Wardle H, Dymond S. Tracking online searches for gambling activities and operators in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Google Trends™ analysis. J Behav Addict 2023; 12:983-991. [PMID: 38141072 PMCID: PMC10786234 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2023.00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Whilst some research has explored the impact of COVID-19 on gambling behaviour, little is yet known about online search behaviours for gambling during this period. The current study explored gambling-related online searches before, during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. We also assessed whether search trends were related to Gambling Commission behavioural data over the same period. Methods Google Trends™ search data, covering thirty months from January 2020 to June 2022, for five gambling activities and five gambling operators were downloaded. Graphical displays of the weekly relative search values over this period were then produced to visualise trends in search terms, with key dates in COVID-19 policy and sporting events highlighted. Cross-correlations between seasonally adjusted monthly search data and behavioural indices were conducted. Results Sharp increases in internet searches for poker, slots, and bingo were evident during the first lockdown in the UK, with operator searches sharply decreasing over this period. No changes in gambling activity searches were highlighted during subsequent lockdowns, although small increases in operator-based searches were detected. Strong positive correlations were found between search data and industry data for sports betting and poker but not for slots. Conclusions Google Trends™ data may act as an indicator of population-level gambling behaviour. Substitution of preferred gambling activities for others may have occurred during the first lockdown when opportunities for sports betting were limited. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of internet search data in predicting gambling-related harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Houghton
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Type, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom
| | - Frederic Boy
- iLab Innovation and Research Centre, School of Management, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Bradley
- School of Education and Sociology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2HY, United Kingdom
| | - Richard James
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Wardle
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Dymond
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Reykjavík University, Menntavegur 1, Nauthólsvík, 101Reykjavík, Iceland
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25
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Estévez A, Macía L, Ontalvilla A, Aurrekoetxea M. Exploring the psychosocial characteristics of women with gambling disorder through a qualitative study. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1294149. [PMID: 38173857 PMCID: PMC10761503 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1294149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction that has been primarily male, but in the last few years, the age of onset has been equated between the sexes. The profile of female gamblers could be different from that of men. Consequently, this study analyzes the testimonies of women with gambling disorder to determine their specific characteristics (gambling motives, gambling preferences, and associated pathologies). Method The sample comprises 18 women with gambling disorder aged between 30 and 68. Three discussion groups were held, and a "blind" inductive process was carried out to extract categories. The Atlas.Ti 22.0 program was used to recode and analyze the data. Results Results show that women may start gambling due to abuse suffered in childhood, and often family members initiate women into gambling. Likewise, the onset of gambling could be a maladaptive way to manage negative emotions. Also highlighted is the predominance of feelings of social stigmatization, which can be reflected in women's choice of games where they are not visible. Comorbidity with other disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and the use of other substances are noteworthy. Discussion The factors explaining why female gamblers do not seek treatment compared to male gamblers are analyzed. More studies on women's experience with gambling are needed to address the specific characteristics of gambling disorder in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Estévez
- Psychology Department, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Laura Macía
- Psychology Department, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | | | - Maite Aurrekoetxea
- Department of Social and Human Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
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26
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Rolando S, Ferrari C, Beccaria F. "To me, it was Just a Vice". Stigma and Other Barriers to Gambling Treatment in Piedmont, Italy. J Gambl Stud 2023; 39:1909-1925. [PMID: 37166746 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10214-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In Piedmont (northwestern Italy), as in the rest of the Western world, only a small percentage of the estimated problem gamblers (10-20%) turn to a treatment service to overcome their addiction issues. The study sought to gain a better understanding of the cultural factors that stand in the way of seeking help, thorough qualitative in-depth individual interviews with gamblers both in and out of treatment. A total of 30 interviews were conducted in three different health districts, most via video-call. Data were then analyzed using an abductive approach. The findings appear to indicate that the processes of stigma affecting problem gamblers and public gambling treatment services are the main barriers to seeking help. According to the interviewees, awareness of the problem is a necessary but not sufficient motivator for embarking on treatment, since social stigmatization leads them to hide the problem. Moreover, self-stigmatization processes seem to undermine the sense of self-efficacy that plays a key role in recovery. To encourage help-seeking, the study thus suggests that priority should be given to efforts to reduce stigma, i.e., through informational and educational measures together with advocacy interventions, which aim primarily to reframe the gambling problem, shifting responsibility from the individual to the collective level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rolando
- Eclectica, Institute for Training and Research, Via S. Pellico 1, Turin, 10125, Italy.
| | | | - Franca Beccaria
- Eclectica, Institute for Training and Research, Via S. Pellico 1, Turin, 10125, Italy
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27
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Close J, Spicer SG, Nicklin LL, Uther M, Whalley B, Fullwood C, Parke J, Lloyd J, Lloyd H. Exploring the relationships between psychological variables and loot box engagement, part 1: pre-registered hypotheses. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:231045. [PMID: 38126068 PMCID: PMC10731324 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Loot boxes are purchasable randomized rewards in video games that share structural and psychological similarities with gambling. Systematic review evidence has established reproducible associations between loot box purchasing and both problem gambling and problem video gaming, perhaps driven by a range of overlapping psychological processes (e.g. impulsivity, gambling-related cognitions, etc.) It has also been argued that loot box engagement may have negative influences on player financial and psychological wellbeing. We conducted a pre-registered survey of 1495 loot box purchasing gamers (LB cohort) and 1223 gamers who purchase other, non-randomized game content (nLB cohort). Our survey confirms 15 of our 23 pre-registered hypotheses against our primary outcome (risky loot box engagement), establishing associations with problem gambling, problem gaming, impulsivity, gambling cognitions, experiences of game-related 'flow' and specific 'distraction and compulsion' motivations for purchase. Results with hypotheses concerning potential harms established that risky loot box engagement was negatively correlated with wellbeing and positively correlated with distress. Overall, results indicate that any risks from loot boxes are liable to disproportionately affect various 'at risk' cohorts (e.g. those experiencing problem gambling or video gaming), thereby reiterating calls for policy action on loot boxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Close
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Stuart Gordon Spicer
- Community and Primary Care Research Group (CPCRG), ITTC Building, Davy Road, Plymouth Science Park, Derriford, Plymouth PL6 8BX, UK
| | - Laura Louise Nicklin
- School of Education, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WS1 3BD, UK
| | - Maria Uther
- Enterprise and Innovation, Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Seacole Building, Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, UK
| | - Ben Whalley
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Chris Fullwood
- School of Natural, Sport and Social Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK
| | | | - Joanne Lloyd
- Cyberpsychology Research Group, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Helen Lloyd
- School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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28
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Antons S, Yip SW, Lacadie CM, Dadashkarimi J, Scheinost D, Brand M, Potenza MN. Connectome-based prediction of craving in gambling disorder and cocaine use disorder. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 2023; 25:33-42. [PMID: 37190759 PMCID: PMC10190201 DOI: 10.1080/19585969.2023.2208586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Craving, involving intense and urgent desires to engage in specific behaviours, is a feature of addictions. Multiple studies implicate regions of salience/limbic networks and basal ganglia, fronto-parietal, medial frontal regions in craving in addictions. However, prior studies have not identified common neural networks that reliably predict craving across substance and behavioural addictions. METHODS Functional magnetic resonance imaging during an audiovisual cue-reactivity task and connectome-based predictive modelling (CPM), a data-driven method for generating brain-behavioural models, were used to study individuals with cocaine-use disorder and gambling disorder. Functions of nodes and networks relevant to craving were identified and interpreted based on meta-analytic data. RESULTS Craving was predicted by neural connectivity across disorders. The highest degree nodes were mostly located in the prefrontal cortex. Overall, the prediction model included complex networks including motor/sensory, fronto-parietal, and default-mode networks. The decoding revealed high functional associations with components of memory, valence ratings, physiological responses, and finger movement/motor imagery. CONCLUSIONS Craving could be predicted across substance and behavioural addictions. The model may reflect general neural mechanisms of craving despite specificities of individual disorders. Prefrontal regions associated with working memory and autobiographical memory seem important in predicting craving. For further validation, the model should be tested in diverse samples and contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Antons
- General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Essen, Germany
| | - Sarah W. Yip
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cheryl M. Lacadie
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Dustin Scheinost
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Matthias Brand
- General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Essen, Germany
| | - Marc N. Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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29
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Badu E, Hallett J, Vujcich D, Crawford G, Bellringer ME. Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:daad171. [PMID: 38091619 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Ghana, like many other African countries, has seen a rapid expansion in gambling industry activity in the last decade with sports betting becoming a popular pastime among young Ghanaian males. The proliferation of land based, and online gambling operations presents a significant public health threat to the citizenry. Yet little is known about gambling participation and harms, the size of the gambling market and the role of the gambling industry in influencing and perpetuating gambling behaviour in Ghana. The aim of this study was to contribute to understanding the extent of gambling research in Ghana by mapping out what the current literature indicates. Six databases were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles that focused on gambling in Ghana. The findings from this review demonstrate gambling research in Ghana is in a nascent state with a predominant focus on individual factors and limited consideration of public health. The implications for future research are highlighted, including the requirement for a nationally representative study to understand the prevalence of gambling participation and harm, and the role of the gambling industry. Public health action grounded in sound evidence is urgently required to address the individual and community level problems associated with this harmful commodity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Badu
- Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Building 400, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Building 400, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Jonathan Hallett
- Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Building 400, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Building 400, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Daniel Vujcich
- Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Building 400, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Building 400, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Gemma Crawford
- Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Building 400, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Building 400, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Maria E Bellringer
- Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, School of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, 90 Akoranga Drive, Northcote, Auckland 0627, New Zealand
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30
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Lopez-Gonzalez H, Griffiths MD. Gambling-like Features in fan Tokens. J Gambl Stud 2023; 39:1579-1596. [PMID: 37171664 PMCID: PMC10175924 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10215-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Fan tokens are a form of cryptocurrency that allow owners to participate in various fan-related experiences such as voting on the music to be played during half-time breaks in sporting events. Since 2020, many elite sport teams have issued fan tokens, allegedly as a way to engage with fans and hear their voice. However, fan tokens also raise some concerns. They are largely gamified digital items that intend to keep fans within the providers' app. Also, they can be traded in exchange platforms, which arguably transform them into collectibles, whose value can vary over time. Here, we explore fan tokens through a case study from a football (soccer) club (i.e., an F.C. Barcelona fan token). Drawing on literature from situational and structural characteristics of gambling, we analyse the gambling-like features that fan tokens include in their product design. Such features are discussed from a public health perspective, comparing what they mean in gambling contexts and how potentially harmful they could be for fan token holders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hibai Lopez-Gonzalez
- Department of Library, Information Science, and Communication, University of Barcelona, Melcior de Palau 140, Barcelona, 08014, Spain.
| | - Mark D Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
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31
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Saunders M, Rogers J, Roberts A, Gavens L, Huntley P, Midgley S. Using geospatial mapping to predict and compare gambling harm hotspots in urban, rural and coastal areas of a large county in England. J Public Health (Oxf) 2023; 45:847-853. [PMID: 37391365 PMCID: PMC10788837 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdad096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disordered gambling is a public health problem with interconnections with health and social inequality, and adverse impacts on physical and mental health. Mapping technologies have been used to explore gambling in the UK, though most were based in urban locations. METHODS We used routine data sources and geospatial mapping software to predict where gambling related harm would be most prevalent within a large English county, host to urban, rural and coastal communities. RESULTS Licensed gambling premises were most concentrated in areas of deprivation, and in urban and coastal areas. The aggregate prevalence of disordered gambling associated characteristics was also greatest in these areas. CONCLUSIONS This mapping study links the number of gambling premises, deprivation, and risk factors for disordered gambling, and highlights that coastal areas see particularly high density of gambling premises. Findings can be applied to target resources to where they are most needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Saunders
- Department of Public Health, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham NG3 3NG, UK
| | - Jim Rogers
- College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK
| | - Amanda Roberts
- College of Social Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK
| | - Lucy Gavens
- Public Health Division, Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Lincoln LN1 1YL, UK
| | - Phil Huntley
- Public Health Division, Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Lincoln LN1 1YL, UK
| | - Sarah Midgley
- Public Health Division, Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Lincoln LN1 1YL, UK
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McKevitt S, White M, Petticrew M, Summerbell C, Vasiljevic M, Boyland E, Cummins S, Laverty AA, Millett C, de Vocht F, Junghans C, Vamos EP. Characterizing restrictions on commercial advertising and sponsorship of harmful commodities in local government policies: a nationwide study in England. J Public Health (Oxf) 2023; 45:878-887. [PMID: 37608490 PMCID: PMC10687598 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdad155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Commercial advertising and sponsorship drive the consumption of harmful commodities. Local authorities (LAs) have considerable powers to reduce such exposures. This study aimed to characterize local commercial policies across all English LAs. METHODS We conducted a census of all English LAs (n = 333) to identify local commercial policies concerning advertising and sponsorship of tobacco, alcohol, less healthy foods and gambling, through online searches and Freedom of Information requests. We explored policy presence, commodity frequency and type, and associations with LA characteristics (region, urban/rural and deprivation). RESULTS Only a third (106) of LAs in England had a relevant policy (32%). These included restrictions on tobacco (91%), gambling (79%), alcohol (74%) and/or less healthy foods (24%). Policy prevalence was lowest in the East of England (22%), North East (25%) and North West (27%), higher in urban areas (36%) than rural areas (28%) and lower in the least (27%) compared with the most (38%) deprived areas. Definitions in policies varied, particularly for alcohol and less healthy foods. CONCLUSIONS English LAs currently underutilize their levers to reduce the negative impacts of harmful commodity industry marketing, particularly concerning less healthy foods. Standardized guidance, including clarity on definitions and application, could inform local policy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah McKevitt
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martin White
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark Petticrew
- Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Carolyn Summerbell
- Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Fuse, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Milica Vasiljevic
- Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Fuse, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Emma Boyland
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Steven Cummins
- Population Health Innovation Lab, Department of Public Health, Environments & Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Anthony A Laverty
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Christopher Millett
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Frank de Vocht
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Northwest London (NIHR ARC), London, UK
| | - Cornelia Junghans
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Northwest London (NIHR ARC), London, UK
| | - Eszter P Vamos
- Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Zeng S, McLaughlin EFB, Ramesh A, Morrison SE. Propensity for risky choices despite lower cue reactivity in adolescent rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1297293. [PMID: 38053922 PMCID: PMC10694209 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1297293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescence is a time of heightened risk-taking across species. Salient audiovisual cues associated with rewards are a common feature of gambling environments and have been connected to increased risky decision-making. We have previously shown that, in adult male rats, sign tracking - a behavioral measure of cue reactivity - predicts an individual's propensity for suboptimal risky choices in a rodent gambling task (rGT) with win-paired cues. However, adolescents perform less sign tracking than adult animals, suggesting that they are less cue-reactive than adults in some circumstances. Therefore, we investigated the performance of adolescent male rats on the rGT with win cues and examined its relationship with their sign-tracking behavior. We found that adolescents make more risky choices and fewer optimal choices on the rGT compared with adults, evidence of the validity of the rGT as a model of adolescent gambling behavior. We also confirmed that adolescents perform less sign tracking than adults, and we found that, unlike in adults, adolescents' sign tracking was unrelated to their risk-taking in the rGT. This implies that adolescent risk-taking is less likely than that of adults to be driven by reward-related cues. Finally, we found that adults trained on the rGT as adolescents retained an adolescent-like propensity toward risky choices, suggesting that early exposure to a gambling environment may have a long-lasting impact on risk-taking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sara E. Morrison
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Koumantakis E, Comoretto RI, Dalmasso P, Bersia M, Lemma P, Lazzeri G, Nardone P, Vieno A, Galeotti T, Berchialla P, Charrier L. Risk Behaviors among Migrant Adolescents in Italy. Children (Basel) 2023; 10:1816. [PMID: 38002907 PMCID: PMC10670227 DOI: 10.3390/children10111816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical period for engaging in health risk behaviors. Migrant adolescents may face unique challenges due to acculturation stress. This study aims to monitor substance use and problem gambling among migrant adolescents living in Italy. Data from the 2017/18 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey in Italy were analyzed. The 18,794 participants included 15-year-olds, categorized as native or migrants, with ethnic backgrounds from Western, Eastern European, or non-Western/non-European countries. Girls had higher smoking rates, while boys exhibited higher prevalence of alcohol-related risk behaviors, cannabis use, and gambling. Boys from Eastern European countries displayed a greater risk of drunkenness (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.06-2.37), particularly in the first generation, while those from Western countries showed a higher risk of multiple substance use (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05-1.96). Girls from Eastern European and non-Western/non-European countries had a lower risk of alcohol consumption (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.29-0.85; OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.91, respectively). Finally, boys, especially those from Eastern European and non-Western/non-European countries, had a significantly higher risk of problem gambling (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.04-3.22; OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.29-3.42, respectively). This disparity was more pronounced in the first generation, possibly due to acculturation challenges and socio-economic factors. Risk behaviors in adolescents are influenced by complex interplays of gender, cultural factors, and migration generation. Preventive strategies should consider these factors to effectively address substance use and gambling in this heterogeneous population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Koumantakis
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
- Post Graduate School of Medical Statistics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | | | - Paola Dalmasso
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Michela Bersia
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
- Post Graduate School of Medical Statistics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Patrizia Lemma
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Giacomo Lazzeri
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Paola Nardone
- National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Vieno
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Tommaso Galeotti
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Berchialla
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
| | - Lorena Charrier
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
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Håkansson A, Tjernberg J, Hansson H. Effects and Limitations of a Unique, Nationwide, Self-Exclusion Service for Gambling Disorder and Its Self-Perceived Effects and Harms in Gamblers: Protocol for a Qualitative Interview Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e47528. [PMID: 37962917 PMCID: PMC10685284 DOI: 10.2196/47528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling is a common but underdeveloped harm reduction tool in the management of gambling problems or gambling disorders. Large-scale, multi-operator, and operator-independent self-exclusion services are needed. A recent nationwide multi-operator self-exclusion service in Sweden (Spelpaus), involving both land- and web-based gambling sites, is promising, but recent data have revealed limitations to this system and possibilities to breach one's self-exclusion through overseas web-based gambling. More knowledge is needed about the benefits and challenges of such an extensive self-exclusion service, and its effects as perceived by gamblers. OBJECTIVE This study protocol describes the rationale and design of a qualitative interview study addressing the effects and limitations perceived by individuals with gambling problems and their concerned significant others. The study aims to provide an in-depth experience of this novel self-exclusion service and to inform stakeholders and policymakers in order to further improve harm reduction tools against gambling problems. METHODS Individuals with gambling problems will be recruited primarily through social media and also from a treatment unit, if needed, for a qualitative interview study. Recorded interview material will be analyzed through content analysis, and recruitment will continue until saturation in the material is reached. This study will provide in-depth information about a harm reduction tool that is promising and commonly used, but which has proven to be breached by a significant number of users, potentially limiting its efficiency. The aim is to interview a sufficient number of gamblers until saturation has been obtained in the interview material. Saturation will be considered through a continuous analysis, comparing recently collected data to previously collected data. RESULTS Results will be reported as the themes and subthemes identified after the thorough analysis and coding of the transcribed text material and will be accompanied by citations representing relevant themes and subthemes. Results are planned to be provided before the end of 2023. CONCLUSIONS This study will likely provide new insights into user perspectives on a multi-operator self-exclusion service that involves both web- and land-based gambling operators, and which according to previous literature attracts many gamblers but also appears to have limitations and challenges in the target group of individuals with gambling problems. Policy and legislation implications, as well as clinical implications for treatment providers, will be discussed. Results and conclusions will be disseminated to policy makers in Sweden and internationally, as well as to peer organizations, treatment providers, and the research community. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05693155; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05693155. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/47528.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Håkansson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Malmö Addiction Center, Gambling Disorder Unit, Region Skåne, Competence Center Addiction, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Johanna Tjernberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
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Hagen AEF, Nogueira-Arjona R, Sherry SB, Rodriguez LM, Yakovenko I, Stewart SH. Corrigendum: What explains the link between romantic conflict with gambling problems? Testing a serial mediational model. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1305966. [PMID: 38022999 PMCID: PMC10657654 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1305966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1018098.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E. F. Hagen
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Simon B. Sherry
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Lindsey M. Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Igor Yakovenko
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sherry H. Stewart
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Çıtak Ş. Latent profile analysis of gambling. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1293933. [PMID: 37965671 PMCID: PMC10641010 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1293933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Early age of gambling onset, ease of gambling with technological developments and lack of controlling online gambling games have led to unmanageable risk of gambling. Individual-centered approaches play a significant role in managing the risk that gambling poses on public health and discerning the heterogeneity of gambling addiction. Therefore, this study employed Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), one of the individual-centered approaches, to model the interactions across the psychosocial characteristics of gamblers. The study aims to reveal the latent profiles of gambling addiction. Unlike variable-centered approaches, LPA is a contemporary technique that provides objective information regarding individual psychological processes and behaviors. The profile indicators of the study involve psychosocial characteristics such as resilience, motives to gamble (excitement/fun, avoidance, making money, socializing), purposefulness, responsibility and worthiness. Data were collected from 317 volunteers (M = 68.9%; F = 31.1%; mean age = 25.16 ± 6.46) through the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Gambling Motives Scale (GMS) and Personal Virtues Scale (PVS). The emerging profiles were defined as adventurous players (14.2%), social gamblers (9.8%), professional gamblers (32.8%), problem gamblers (24.6%) and avoidant gamblers (18.6%). The individual-centered modeling is congruent with the literature on gambling and provides a complementary perspective to understand the heterogeneous structure of gambling. The results are expected to assist mental health professionals in developing educational and clinical intervention programs for gambling behavior. Finally yet importantly, it is recommended that new LPA models be offered through the use of different indicators related to gambling addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şenel Çıtak
- Psychological Counseling and Guidance, Department of Educational Sciences, Ordu University, Ordu, Türkiye
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Dymond S, Dighton G, Hoon AE, Roderique-Davies G, John B, Bowden-Jones H. The ongoing need for NHS gambling harms services in Wales: time to put words into action. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1277435. [PMID: 37953940 PMCID: PMC10634300 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1277435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Dymond
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Reykjavík University, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Glen Dighton
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Alice E. Hoon
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth Roderique-Davies
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Treforest, United Kingdom
| | - Bev John
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Treforest, United Kingdom
| | - Henrietta Bowden-Jones
- National Problem Gambling Clinic and National Centre for Gaming Disorders, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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Russell AM, Browne M, Hing N, Rockloff M, Newall P, Dowling NA, Merkouris S, King DL, Stevens M, Salonen AH, Breen H, Greer N, Thorne HB, Visintin T, Rawat V, Woo L. Electronic gaming machine accessibility and gambling problems: A natural policy experiment. J Behav Addict 2023; 12:721-732. [PMID: 37594879 PMCID: PMC10562817 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2023.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are one of the most harmful forms of gambling at an individual level. It is unclear whether restriction of EGM functions and accessibility results in meaningful reductions in population-level gambling harm. Methods A natural policy experiment using a large (N = 15,000) national dataset weighted to standard population variables was employed to compare estimates of gambling problems between Australian residents in Western Australia (WA), where EGMs are restricted to one venue and have different structural features, to residents in other Australian jurisdictions where EGMs are widely accessible in casinos, hotels and clubs. Accessibility of other gambling forms is similar across jurisdictions. Results Gambling participation was higher in WA, but EGM participation was approximately half that of the rest of Australia. Aggregate gambling problems and harm were about one-third lower in WA, and self-reported attribution of harm from EGMs by gamblers and affected others was 2.7× and 4× lower, respectively. Mediation analyses found that less frequent EGM use in WA accounted for the vast majority of the discrepancy in gambling problems (indirect path = -0.055, 95% CI -0.071; -0.038). Moderation analyses found that EGMs are the form most strongly associated with problems, and the strength of this relationship did not differ significantly across jurisdictions. Discussion Lower harm from gambling in WA is attributable to restricted accessibility of EGMs, rather than different structural features. There appears to be little transfer of problems to other gambling forms. These results suggest that restricting the accessibility of EGMs substantially reduces gambling harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex M.T. Russell
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 400 Kent St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Matthew Browne
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 6 University Dr, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia
| | - Nerilee Hing
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 6 University Dr, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia
| | - Matthew Rockloff
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 6 University Dr, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia
| | - Philip Newall
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 400 Kent St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
| | - Nicki A. Dowling
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Stephanie Merkouris
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Daniel L. King
- College of Education, Psychology, & Social Work, Flinders University, Sturt Rd, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | | | - Anne H. Salonen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Health and Well-Being Promotion Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Helen Breen
- Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Southern Cross University, Military Rd, East Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
| | - Nancy Greer
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 120 Spencer St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Hannah B. Thorne
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, Appleton Institute, 44 Greenhill Rd, Wayville, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Tess Visintin
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, Appleton Institute, 44 Greenhill Rd, Wayville, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Vijay Rawat
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, 120 Spencer St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Linda Woo
- Independent Consultant, Southport, QLD 4215, Australia
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40
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Zolkwer MB, Dymond S, Singer BF. Voluntary Self-Exclusion and Contingency Management for the Treatment of Problematic and Harmful Gambling in the UK: An Exploratory Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2682. [PMID: 37830719 PMCID: PMC10573067 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11192682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Research into self-directed methods for reducing problematic and harmful gambling is still in its infancy. One strategy that individuals use to prevent gambling involves voluntary self-exclusion (VSE) programs. For example, VSE programs can make it challenging to access betting sites or enable banks to block gambling-related transactions. Although individual VSEs can be helpful when used alone, it is unclear whether their efficacy is enhanced when combined. Furthermore, it is unknown how VSE compliance can be improved. We propose that contingency management (CM), an evidence-based strategy to incentivise abstinence, could encourage continued VSE use, promoting long-lasting recovery from problematic or harmful gambling. Here, we conducted exploratory analyses on VSE use and CM for gambling in two populations (members of the UK general population recruited and students). Participants responded favourably regarding combined VSE use. They felt that providing vouchers exchangeable for goods/services could incentivise gambling abstinence during VSE. However, some were concerned about people potentially "gaming" the system. Participants believed supplementing VSE and CM with social support could encourage abstinence. These attitudes, and recent research on treatment providers' opinions on CM for gambling, suggest that experimental evidence should be sought to determine the efficacy of combined VSE use and CM for gambling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan B. Zolkwer
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, UK;
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Mosaicism and Precision Medicine Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Simon Dymond
- School of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;
- Department of Psychology, Reykjavík University, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Bryan F. Singer
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, UK;
- Sussex Addiction Research and Intervention Centre and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
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Rogers J, Roberts A, Sharman S, Dymond S, Ludvig EA, Tunney RJ. High stakes. Commentary on the 2023 United Kingdom government white paper on gambling reform. Addiction 2023; 118:2030-2031. [PMID: 37431701 DOI: 10.1111/add.16286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jim Rogers
- University of Lincoln-School of Health and Social Care, Lincoln, UK
| | - Amanda Roberts
- University of Lincoln-School of Psychology, College of Social Science, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, UK
| | - Steve Sharman
- Kings College London-National Addiction Centre, London, UK
| | - Simon Dymond
- Swansea University-Department of Psychology, Swansea, UK
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Esparza-Reig J, Martí-Vilar M, González-Sala F, Merino-Soto C, Hernández-Salinas G, Toledano-Toledano F. Health-Related, Social and Cognitive Factors Explaining Gambling Addiction. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2657. [PMID: 37830694 PMCID: PMC10572556 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11192657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gambling addiction was the first addictive behavior not related to substance use that was recognized by the DSM-5. It shares diagnostics and comorbidity with other addictions. Extensive studies have investigated the clinical variables involved, but there have been fewer studies of related cognitive and social variables. In this research, an integrative model was developed to advance the understanding of gambling addiction, and an explanatory model was created based on the concept of cognitive distortions. METHODS The sample comprised 258 university students (59.5% women) with a mean age of 20.95 years (SD = 2.19). A series of questionnaires were administered to measure gambling addiction, depression, coping with stress, prosocial behavior, susceptibility to priming and cognitive distortions about gambling. In addition, correlations, multiple linear regressions and a simple mediation model of these variables were analyzed. RESULTS The results indicated that gambling addiction was correlated with a variety of clinical, social and cognitive factors. These factors contributed to a model that predicted 16.8% of the variance in gambling addiction and another model using cognitive distortions as a predictor and the maximum bet as a mediator that predicted 34.5% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS The study represents an advance by developing a theoretical model from an integrative perspective and providing a new explanatory model. The findings of this research are of great importance in the development of prevention and intervention programs for gambling addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Esparza-Reig
- Department of Psychology, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Passeig de l'Albereda, 7, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Martí-Vilar
- Department of Basic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco González-Sala
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - César Merino-Soto
- Instituto de Investigación de Psicología, Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Av. Tomás Marsano 232, Lima 34, Peru
| | - Gregorio Hernández-Salinas
- Zongolica-Extensión Tezonapa, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Km. 4 Carr. a La Compañia S/N, Tepetitlanapa, Veracruz 95005, Mexico
| | - Filiberto Toledano-Toledano
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Basada en Evidencias, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Dr. Márquez 162, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
- Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria en Salud, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, México-Xochimilco 289, Arenal de Guadalupe, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
- Dirección de Investigación y Diseminación del Conocimiento, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias e Innovación para la Formación de Comunidad Científica, INDEHUS, Periférico Sur 4860, Arenal de Guadalupe, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
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Azevedo NP, Santos P, Sá L. Gambling Disorder among Porto's University Students. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2527. [PMID: 37761724 PMCID: PMC10530893 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11182527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gambling disorder is an emerging problem among young adults and must be researched to provide the necessary support. This study aims to characterise gambling disorders in Porto's university students. METHODS A cross-sectional study distributed an online questionnaire to Porto's university students. The authors developed a self-administered questionnaire that included the South Oaks Gambling Screen questionnaire-Portuguese Version (SOGS-PV). RESULTS A total of 1123 responses were included. The participants' average age was 22.4 years (SD = 6.2), and 60.9% were women. Gambling activities were performed by 66.4% of the students, most commonly online or video games, "scratch card" games, skill games, lotteries, and sports bets. The final scores of the SOGS-PV suggested 19.7% (95% CI: 17.4-22.0) of students may have a gambling disorder, with 16.6% (95% CI: 14.4-18.8) being "probable pathological gamblers" and 3.1% (95% CI: 2.1-4.1) being "problem gamblers". Gambling in the stocks/commodities market/virtual coins, sports bets, playing cards for money, and the numbers or betting on lotteries presents a higher risk of gambling disorder. The age (OR: 0.953; 95% CI: 0.922-0.986), being male (OR: 2.756; 95% CI: 1.899-4.000), the highest daily gambling amount (OR: 3.938; 95% CI: 2.580-6.012), the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (OR: 0.129; 95% CI: 0.087-0.191), a mother with gambling disorder (OR: 5.284; 95% CI: 1.038-26.902), the personal services education area (OR: 2.858; 95% CI: 1.179-6.929), and the linguistics education area (OR: 2.984; 95% CI: 1.538-5.788) stand out as contributing factors to the development of this disorder. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals a high level of possible gambling disorder among university students and emphasises the importance of this problem in the academic community. Physician awareness and prevention programmes are needed in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nádia Pais Azevedo
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Paulo Santos
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (L.S.)
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa Sá
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal; (P.S.); (L.S.)
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal
- Nova Via Health Unit, ACesS Espinho-Gaia, 4405-535 Valadares, Portugal
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Pfund RA, Forman DP, Whalen SK, Zech JM, Ginley MK, Peter SC, McAfee NW, Whelan JP. Effect of cognitive-behavioral techniques for problem gambling and gambling disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction 2023; 118:1661-1674. [PMID: 37381589 PMCID: PMC10524575 DOI: 10.1111/add.16221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To measure the effect of cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBTs) on gambling disorder severity and gambling behavior at post-treatment and follow-up. METHOD Seven databases and two clinical trial registries were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies and unpublished studies of randomized controlled trials. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool assessed risk of bias in the included studies. A random effect meta-analysis with robust variance estimation was conducted to measure the effect of CBTs relative to minimally treated or no treatment control groups. RESULTS Twenty-nine studies representing 3991 participants were identified. CBTs significantly reduced gambling disorder severity (g = -1.14, 95% CI = -1.68, -0.60, 95% prediction interval [PI] = -2.97, 0.69), gambling frequency (g = -0.54, 95% CI = -0.80, -0.27, 95% PI = -1.48, 0.40) and gambling intensity (g = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.51, -0.13, 95% PI = -0.76, 0.12) at post-treatment relative to control. CBTs had no significant effect on follow-up outcomes. Analyses supported the presence of publication bias and high heterogeneity in effect size estimates. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive-behavioral techniques are a promising treatment for reducing gambling disorder and gambling behavior; however, the effect of cognitive-behavioral techniques on gambling disorder severity and gambling frequency and intensity at post-treatment is overestimated, and cognitive-behavioral techniques may not be reliably efficacious for all individuals seeking treatment for problem gambling and gambling disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory A Pfund
- Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education & Research, Tennessee, USA
| | - David P Forman
- Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Shelby K Whalen
- Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
| | - James M Zech
- Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Meredith K Ginley
- Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education & Research, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Nicholas W McAfee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - James P Whelan
- Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education & Research, Tennessee, USA
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45
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Egerer M. Types of gambling: finnish gambling narratives under the lens of systems theory. Front Sociol 2023; 8:1199474. [PMID: 37601333 PMCID: PMC10433772 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2023.1199474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
There seems to be no shortage of gambling and problem gambling typologies. At a closer look, however, previous research identified types of problem gamblers and not of problem gambling. While correct typologies of gamblers are important for developing treatment, they are less useful for harm prevention. The current study uses a system theoretical approach to investigate gambling communication in order to develop a genuine typology of gambling. Snowball sampling of Finnish gamblers resulted in 56 participants, who wrote 48 narratives about their ordinary gambling, 43 narratives about their most remarkable gambling event, and 28 about their worst gambling experience. The approach is informed by systems theory: communication on gambling is understood as a result of the reduction of contingency. Rather than focusing on the meaning of gambling or why people gamble, the analysis investigates what is included and what is excluded to make gambling discussable, i.e., the contextures of gambling. Economic and family/intimate contexture were the most prominent. The latter appeared most often in the most memorable gambling experiences. The economic contexture was more common in narrating ordinary and worst gambling situations. In all, four types of gambling could be identified: genuine monetary gambling, resonating monetary gambling, commensal gambling, and liminal gambling. When comparing the previously identified types of gamblers with the types of gambling discovered in the present study, it becomes obvious that a shift from the gamblers, their background, their personality, and their motives to the gambling activity provides novel insights. The constant appearance of the familial/intimate dimension in the narratives indicates that, beside the financial harms, societal harms also need to be treated as a category of harm in its own right, not just as a consequence of personality disorders, psychological distress, or social deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Egerer
- Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance (CEACG), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Olsson G, Modin B, Brolin Låftman S. School collective efficacy and gambling: A multilevel study of 11th grade students in Stockholm. Nordisk Alkohol Nark 2023; 40:327-338. [PMID: 37663055 PMCID: PMC10472926 DOI: 10.1177/14550725221143174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate variations between schools when it comes to gambling and risk gambling, and, in particular, to analyse the links between school collective efficacy and student gambling and risk gambling. The data consists of official register information on schools as well as survey data collected in 2016 among 1,061 teachers and 5,191 students in 46 Stockholm upper secondary schools. School collective efficacy was operationalized on the basis of teacher responses, which were aggregated to the school level. Gambling and risk gambling were based on students' self-reports. Two-level binary logistic regression analyses were performed. The results show that there is between-school variation in gambling and in all the study's indicators of risk gambling. Both gambling and risk gambling were more commonly reported by students attending schools with weak collective efficacy, even when adjusting for student- and school-level sociodemographic characteristics. The findings suggest that conditions at school may counteract students' engagement in gambling and risk gambling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Olsson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bitte Modin
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Brolin Låftman
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Kapukotuwa S, Bonsu L, Chatterjee A, Fudolig M, Sharma M. Examining the Gambling Behavior of University Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey Applying the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change in a Single Institution. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2151. [PMID: 37570391 PMCID: PMC10419051 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11152151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Gambling among college students can start as a pastime activity. However, this pastime can lead to problem gambling and pathological gambling. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify and explain the initiation and sustenance of quitting gambling among university students who had participated in gambling during the past month and those who had not using a novel fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Data were collected from a sample of 1474 university students at a large southwestern university in the U.S. between January 2023 and February 2023, utilizing a validated 39-item survey. The statistical analyses employed in this study encompassed descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and hierarchical regression modeling. Among students who had engaged in gambling in the past month, the constructs of participatory dialogue (β = 0.052; p < 0.05), behavioral confidence (β = 0.073; p < 0.0001), changes in the physical environment (β = 0.040; p = 0.0137), and demographic variables accounted for 27.7% of the variance in the likelihood of initiating the behavior change. Furthermore, the constructs of emotional transformation (β = 0.104; p = 0.0003) and practice for change (β = 0.060; p = 0.0368), and demographic variables accounted for 22.6% of the variance in the likelihood of sustaining quitting gambling behavior. The Multi-Theory Model (MTM) can be employed to design interventions aimed at reducing problem gambling among college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidath Kapukotuwa
- Department of Social & Behavioral Health, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA; (L.B.); (A.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Laurencia Bonsu
- Department of Social & Behavioral Health, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA; (L.B.); (A.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Anita Chatterjee
- Department of Social & Behavioral Health, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA; (L.B.); (A.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Miguel Fudolig
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA;
| | - Manoj Sharma
- Department of Social & Behavioral Health, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA; (L.B.); (A.C.); (M.S.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, Las Vegas, NV 89106, USA
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48
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Hagen AEF, Nogueira-Arjona R, Sherry SB, Rodriguez LM, Yakovenko I, Stewart SH. What explains the link between romantic conflict with gambling problems? Testing a serial mediational model. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1018098. [PMID: 37502746 PMCID: PMC10370473 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1018098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While individuals have many motives to gamble, one particularly risky motive for gambling is to cope with negative affect. Conflict with one's romantic partner is a strong predictor of negative affect, which may elicit coping motives for gambling and, in turn, gambling-related problems. Support for this mediational model was demonstrated in relation to drinking-related problems. We extended this model to gambling. Method Using a cross-sectional design, we examined links between romantic conflict (Partner-Specific Rejecting Behaviors Scale), negative affect (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21), coping gambling motives (Gambling Motives Questionnaire, coping subscale), and gambling-related problems [Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)] in 206 regular gamblers (64% men; mean age = 44.7 years; mean PGSI = 8.7) who were in a romantic relationship and recruited through Qualtrics Panels in July 2021. Results Results supported our hypothesis that the association between romantic conflict and gambling-related problems would be sequentially mediated through negative affect and coping gambling motives, β = 0.38, 95% CI [0.27, 0.39], and also showed a strong single mediation pathway through negative affect alone, β = 0.27, 95% CI [0.17, 0.38]. Discussion Negative affect and coping gambling motives partially explain the link between romantic conflict and gambling-related problems. Interventions should target both negative affect and coping gambling motives in response to romantic conflict to reduce gambling-related problems in partnered gamblers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E. F. Hagen
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Simon B. Sherry
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Lindsey M. Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Igor Yakovenko
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sherry H. Stewart
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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49
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Stefanovics EA, Gueorguieva R, Zhai ZW, Potenza MN. Gambling participation among Connecticut adolescents from 2007 to 2019: Potential risk and protective factors. J Behav Addict 2023; 12:490-499. [PMID: 37335777 PMCID: PMC10316163 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2023.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Gambling in adolescents is a public health concern. This study sought to examine patterns of gambling among Connecticut high-school students using seven representative samples covering a 12-year period. Methods Data were analyzed from N = 14,401 participants in cross-sectional surveys conducted every two years based on random sampling from schools in the state of Connecticut. Anonymous self-completed questionnaires included socio-demographic data, current substance use, social support, and traumatic experiences at school. Chi-square tests were used to compare socio-demographic characteristics between gambling and non-gambling groups. Logistic regressions were used to assess changes in the prevalence of gambling over time and effects of potential risk factors on the prevalence, adjusted for age, sex, and race. Results Overall, the prevalence of gambling largely decreased from 2007 to 2019, although the pattern was not linear. After steadily declining from 2007 to 2017, 2019 was associated with increased rates of gambling participation. Consistent statistical predictors of gambling were male gender, older age, alcohol and marijuana use, higher levels of traumatic experiences at school, depression, and low levels of social support. Discussion and conclusion Among adolescents, older males may be particularly vulnerable to gambling that relates importantly to substance use, trauma, affective concerns, and poor support. Although gambling participation appears to have declined, the recent increase in 2019 that coincides with increased sports gambling advertisements, media coverage and availability warrants further study. Our findings suggest the importance of developing school-based social support programs that may help reduce adolescent gambling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina A. Stefanovics
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs New England, Mental Illness Research and Education Clinical Center (MIRECC), West Haven, CT, USA
- National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ralitza Gueorguieva
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zu Wei Zhai
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA
| | - Marc N. Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, 05753, USA
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA
- Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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50
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Bonny-Noach H, Horsky S. Post-pandemic cannabis and gambling policy changes to attract tourists may lead to future health problems and costs. J Travel Med 2023; 30:taac117. [PMID: 36222147 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taac117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Aiming to lure back post-pandemic travellers, some tourism-dependent countries are considering and implementing rapid changes in cannabis and gambling policies. On the one hand, this may reverse the downturn in tourism, but on the other hand, it is likely to lead to future health problems and addictive behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagit Bonny-Noach
- The Department of Criminology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
| | - Sharon Horsky
- Hebrew University Business School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
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