Exploring the Precipitating Events and Gambling-Related Activities that Prompt Problem Gamblers and Spouses/Cohabitants to Contact a Gambling Helpline.

Gambling helplines have progressed to offer support and brief interventions for both the problem gambler (PG) and their spouse/cohabitant (S/C). S/Cs play an important role in assisting their partner with their recovery from a gambling disorder. However, few studies have investigated the concerns of both PGs and S/Cs who contact gambling helplines. The purpose of this study is to examine the reasons, gambling activities, and gambling locations/venues endorsed by PGs and S/Cs who contacted a state-wide gambling helpline. 938 individuals (809 PGs; 129 S/Cs) from the state of Florida contacted the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling helpline to discuss gambling-related concerns. Helpline contacts (calls, texts, e-mails, and live chat interactions) between the period of July 1st, 2019, to June 30th, 2020, were examined. Callers/contacts provided information related to their demographic characteristics, the precipitating event leading to contact, the PG's primary gambling activity, and venue most often used by the PG. Chi-square tests were utilized to examine relationships and gender differences between PGs and S/Cs. Significant differences were found between the precipitating events for contacting the helpline and primary gambling locations/venues identified by PGs and S/Cs. Furthermore, gender differences were observed in the primary gambling activities and gambling locations/venues endorsed by the PG and S/C. The results suggest that PGs and S/Cs held different reasons when contacting the helpline. Future research should delve deeper into these disparities in order to build intervention programs tailored to the needs of both PGs and their S/Cs.

Clinical Correlates of Sports Betting: A Systematic Review.

Sports betting is becoming increasingly widespread, and a growing number of individuals, both adolescents and adults, participate in this type of gambling. The main aim of this systematic review was to assess correlates of sports betting (sociodemographic features, gambling-related variables, co-occurring psychopathologies, and personality tendencies) through a systematic review conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were identified via searches of NCBI/PubMed and APA PsycInfo databases. Individuals from the general population and/or with a clinical diagnosis of gambling disorder (GD) were included, irrespective of gender and age. In addition, the studies needed to have administered at least one clinical interview/psychometric instrument to assess the presence of problematic gambling/GD, contain at least one group of participants with sports betting, and directly analyze the association between sports betting and any of the following features: sociodemographics, gambling-related variables, co-occurring psychopathologies, and/or personality tendencies. Fifty-four articles were included. Multiple sociodemographic variables have been studied in relation to sports betting. In general, males with high impulsivity have greater tendencies for sports betting. The co-occurrence of certain pathologies, especially substance use or other addictive disorders, was also suggested. Most studies were cross-sectional, assessed participants using self-administered instruments, recruited samples using non-probability online panels, included small samples, had unbalanced samples, and included samples from only one country. Impulsive males may be particularly prone to sports gambling and related problems. Future research should examine prevention strategies that may help prevent the development of sport-betting-related GD and other addictive behaviors in vulnerable individuals.

Understanding adolescent esports bettors: Are they a homogeneous group?

With the rapid rise of competitive video gaming (esports), increased attention has been placed on understanding the profiles of youth who wager on esports. With adolescents being at increased risk of gambling problems and endorsing high rates of past year engagement in video games, there is a need for research investigating psychological and social correlates of adolescent esports bettors and to identify whether youth who engage in esports betting are a homogenous group. Survey responses were collected from 5,997 high-school students (48.4 % male, Mage = 14.7 years [SD = 1.6], age range 12-17) from Wood County, Ohio, United States. A latent class analysis was conducted to identify subgroups of esports bettors based on self-reported measures of gambling frequency, risk for problem gambling, gaming frequency, disordered gaming, preference for virtual life and risky loot box use. Results indicated that 5.5 % of the sample reported esports betting over the past year. Four classes of esports bettors were identified which were indicative of a group of low-risk esports bettors, a group of esports bettors at risk of gaming problems, a group of esports bettors at risk of gambling problems, and a group of esports bettors at high risk of both gambling and gaming problems. Although no significant differences based on sex and age were noted between the classes, differences were noted in experienced childhood adversity, mental health symptoms and problem behavior severity. Results are discussed in line with previous findings relevant to adolescent and adult esports betting.

Trajectory Classes of Externalizing and Internalizing Symptoms to Adolescent Gambling Participation: An Exploratory Study.

Engagement in underage gambling remains a public health concern. Risk factors for the development of gambling behaviours in adolescence include the presence of externalizing and/or internalizing problems. This study aims to better understand the role of co-occurrence between externalizing and internalizing symptoms from childhood to adolescence in adolescent gambling. Participants were drawn from an ongoing longitudinal study of children with and without early conduct problems. Externalizing and internalizing problems were measured annually using teacher and parent reports. Gambling behaviours were measured using self-report when participants were approximately 15 years old. Latent class growth trajectory analyses identified five mental health trajectory classes: (1) a co-occurring trajectory characterized by stable clinical levels of both externalizing and internalizing problems, (2) an externalizing trajectory characterized by stable high clinical levels of externalizing problems, (3) an internalizing trajectory characterized by stable at-risk levels of internalizing problems, (4) an at-risk externalizing trajectory characterized by decreasing levels of externalizing problems, and (5) a non-clinical trajectory. Invariance analyses suggested that this model remained valid in both boys and girls. Logistic regression analyses suggested that youth who belonged in the externalizing trajectory reported a greater likelihood of past-year gambling behaviours when compared to youth who belong in the comorbid trajectory. No other mental health trajectory was significantly associated with adolescent gambling. Stable high externalizing behaviours in development appear to increase one's risk of gambling behaviours in adolescence. Efforts to target these throughout development could help decrease one's future risk of engaging in these behaviours.

Sports-betting-related gambling disorder: Clinical features and correlates of cognitive behavioral therapy outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The number of patients with gambling disorder (GD) whose gambling preference is sports betting is increasing. However, their clinical profile and their responses to psychological treatments -compared to patients with other forms of gambling- have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the aims of this study were: (1) to compare the clinical characteristics of GD patients whose primary gambling activity was sports betting (SB+; n = 113) with GD patients with other primary gambling activities (SB-; n = 1,135); (2) to compare treatment outcomes (dropout and relapses) between SB + and SB- patients; and (3) to explore relationships between specific variables (GD severity, psychological distress and personality features) and treatment outcome in SB + and SB- GD patients, through correlation models and path-analysis. METHODS: The cognitive behavioral treatment consisted of 16 weekly sessions. Personality features, psychopathology, and sociodemographic and clinical factors were assessed. RESULTS: The SB + group included higher proportions of younger patients who were single and had higher educational levels, older ages of GD onset, and greater GD severities. Regarding treatment outcomes, the dropout rate was lower in the SB + group, and no between-group differences were found regarding relapse. Dropout within the SB + group was related to being unemployed, and relapse was related to being unmarried and experiencing more psychological distress. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The differences between SB + and SB- GD patients suggest that GD patients with sports-betting problems may benefit from tailored therapeutic approaches.

From one year to the next: Video gaming life-style predicts subsequent psychosocial risk in adolescent boys and girls.

AIM: The ubiquitous societal presence of screens and gaming software is ever growing in popularity. However, can this recreational life-style pose risks for children's psychosocial adjustment? We thus examine associations between gaming life-style and later psychosocial development. METHODS: The study sample originates from the 2120 boys and girls from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development birth cohort. At age 12, 625 boys and 702 girls from the original sample self-reported the number of hours engaged in video gaming per week and 1 year later, they self-reported psychosocial outcomes. RESULTS: Among boys, higher weekly video gaming frequency at age 12 forecasted increases in subsequent reactive aggression, emotional distress and ADHD symptoms at age 13. For girls, higher weekly video gaming frequency at age 12 predicted increases in subsequent reactive aggression and ADHD symptoms at age 13. No association between video game use and emotional distress was found for girls. CONCLUSION: In both boys and girls, a more intense video gaming life-style predicted subsequent risks for reactive aggression and ADHD symptoms, compared with their same sex counterparts reporting less intensity. For boys only, video gaming was associated with subsequent reactive emotional distress, likely due to the gender differences in violent content. Our data were collected at a time when there were less versatile screen-based technologies; therefore, our findings can be interpreted as very conservative compared to current estimates. Paediatric professionals and allied disciplines must take preventive measures to ensure that parents are aware of the risks associated with excessive use by their sons and daughters.

Measuring Gambling Outcome Expectancies in Adolescents: Testing the Psychometric Properties of a Modified Version of the Gambling Expectancy Questionnaire.

The Gambling Expectancy Questionnaire (GEQ; Gillespie et al. 2007a) is a 23-item scale assessing three positive outcome expectancies (Enjoyment/Arousal, Money, Self-Enhancement) and two negative outcome expectancies (Over-Involvement, Emotional Impact) related to gambling. It is the most used instrument to assess gambling outcome expectancies in adolescents and it has good psychometric properties. To allow a greater and more useful application of the scale, the present study aimed to modify the GEQ to make it usable with all adolescents, regardless of their gambling behaviour and to verify its psychometric properties. To that aim, the items were modified and the response scale was reduced from a seven-point to a five-point Likert scale. To verify the adequacy of the modified scale, two studies were conducted among Italian adolescents. In the first study (n = 501, 75% males, Mage = 16.74, SD = .88), after having removed four items and relocating another through explorative factor analysis, the original five-factor structure of the scale was confirmed by applying a confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability and validity evidence were also provided. The second study (n = 1894, 61% males, Mage = 15.68, SD = .71) attested its invariance across gambling behaviour status and gender. The modified version of the GEQ (GEQ - MOD) can be profitably used for research and preventive purposes with youth.

What Contributes to Public Stigma Towards Problem Gambling?: A Comparative Analysis of University Students in Australia, Canada, Croatia and Israel.

Stigma refers to the attribution of negative sentiments towards a particular entity, object or individual. Stigma can be public, perceived, or self-referential and can have negative consequences for individuals, including losses of self-esteem, self-efficacy, social isolation and a reluctance to seek help. Problem gambling is known to be a stigmatized activity, but less is known about what factors are associated with this perception and how it might vary in different countries. The current study examines the relationship between perceived stigma towards problem gamblers and gambling attitudes. perceptions of gambling regulations, gambling involvement, perceived accessibility to gambling, and exposure to people with gambling problems. The sample comprised 1787 university students aged 18-30 years from four countries: Australia, Canada, Croatia and Israel. The results indicated that greater perceived stigma was associated with more negative gambling attitudes, less engagement with gambling, and lower perceived social accessibility (the perception that others approve of the activity). Respondents from Croatia, the country with a newer gambling market, reported the most stigma towards problem gamblers as compared with Australia and Canada where gambling is longer established. The findings appear consistent with exposure-adaptation theory, in which tolerance towards people with problem gambling can develop over time in line with greater social acceptance or familiarity with the activity and its consequences. It is suggested that community campaigns and educational programs draw a distinction between attitudes towards gambling in general and those who are negatively affected by the activity.

Between two worlds: Exploring esports betting in relation to problem gambling, gaming, and mental health problems.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Esports betting is an emerging gambling activity where individuals place bets on an organized video gaming competition. It represents only one of several gambling activities commonly endorsed by adolescents. To date, limited research has explored the relationship between esports betting and mental health among adolescents and its convergence with both problem gambling (PG) and problem video gaming (PVG). The present study examined the relation between esports betting, PG and PVG, and both externalizing and internalizing problems among adolescents while accounting for adolescents' video gaming intensity (i.e., how often they play 2 h or more in a day) and engagement in other gambling activities. METHODS: Data was collected from 6,810 adolescents in Wood County, Ohio schools. A subset of 1,348 adolescents (M age = 14.67 years, SD = 1.73, 64% male) who had gambled and played video games during the past year were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Approximately 20% (n = 263) of the included sample had bet on esports during the past year. Esports betting was positively correlated with other forms of gambling, both PG and PVG, and externalizing behaviors. Mediation analyses revealed esports betting was associated to both internalizing and externalizing problems through PVG and not PG. CONCLUSIONS: Esports betting may be particularly appealing to adolescents who are enthusiastic video gamers. As such, regulators must be vigilant to ensure codes of best practices are applied to esports betting operators specifically for underaged individuals.

Bullying Victimization and Problem Video Gaming: The Mediating Role of Externalizing and Internalizing Problems.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent victims of bullying are more likely to experience a range of mental health problems. Although research has investigated the relationship between bullying victimization and various addictive behaviors, the impact of bullying on problem video gaming (PVG) remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between bullying victimization and PVG as mediated by the presence of internalizing and externalizing problems. METHODS: Survey responses were collected from 6353 high-school students aged 12 to 18. Measures include bullying victimization (physical, verbal, cyber and indirect), internalizing (e.g., anxious and depressive symptoms) and externalizing (e.g., aggressive and delinquent problems) problems, and PVG (measured by the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form). RESULTS: Mediation analyses indicated that the relationship between verbal bullying and PVG was completely mediated by the presence of internalizing and externalizing problems. The relationship between physical bullying and PVG was completely mediated by externalizing problems and the relationship between cyberbullying and PVG was completely mediated by internalizing problems. Lastly, the relationship between indirect bullying and PVG was partially mediated by externalizing and internalizing problems. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that different types of bullying victimization are differentially associated with PVG, with mental health symptoms significantly mediating this relationship.

Conduct problems and depressive symptoms in association with problem gambling and gaming: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Behavioral addictions such as gambling and gaming disorder are significant public health issues that are of increasing importance to policy makers and health care providers. Problem gambling and gaming behaviors have been identified as being associated with externalizing and internalizing problems, with theoretical models suggesting that both conduct problems and depressive symptoms may be significant risk factors in the development of problem gambling and gaming. As such, the purpose of this systematic review is to provide an overview of research identifying the relationship between conduct problems, depressive symptoms and problem gambling and gaming among adolescents and young adults. METHODS: Systematic literature searches in accordance with PRISMA guidelines found 71 eligible studies that met the inclusion criteria, 47 for problem gambling, 23 for problem gaming and one for both problem behaviors. RESULTS: Based on cross-sectional evidence, both problem gambling and gaming are consistently concurrently associated with conduct problems and depressive symptoms. Longitudinal evidence appears to be clearer for conduct problems as a risk factor for problem gambling, and depressive symptoms as a risk factor for problem gaming. However, both risk factors appear to increase the risk for these problem behaviors. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Results from the literature review suggest that problem gambling and gaming are associated with the presence of conduct problems and depressive symptoms, with the potential of sharing common etiological factors. Additional research is necessary to confirm these longitudinal relationships with an emphasis on investigating the interaction of both early conduct problems and depressive symptoms.

Emotion regulation interacts with gambling motives to predict problem gambling among emerging adults.

BACKGROUND: It is presently estimated that as much as 10% of emerging adults are at risk for a gambling disorder. The consequences stemming from problematic gambling engagement include increased substance use, mental health disorders, suicidality, financial strain and legal issues. The present study explores whether deficits in specific dimensions of emotion regulation coupled with the motivation to escape negative emotions (i.e., coping motives) increases the likelihood of problem gambling severity, while controlling for variables such as gambling frequency, age, and sex. METHODS: A sample of 919 emerging adult gamblers (Mage = 21.16 years-old, SD = 2.90, 48.1% female) completed an online survey including an assessment of problematic engagement in gambling over the past year, gambling motivations, and difficulties in emotion regulation. In total, 15.2% and 8.1% of this sample were at moderate or high risk for gambling disorder. RESULTS: A series of six moderation analyses revealed that the total models accounted for approximately 37-38% of the variance in problem gambling and that coping motives interacted with less difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior, increased lack of emotional clarity, and increased lack of emotional awareness to create a toxic mixture for problem gambling. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal the importance of considering both psychological factors such as emotion regulation and motivational factors in understanding who is at greatest risk for gambling problems.

Exploring Differences Among Video Gamers With and Without Depression: Contrasting Emotion Regulation and Mindfulness.

Video games are a leisure activity with mass appeal for individuals of all ages. However, for some individuals, playing video games may become problematic and addictive, resulting in negative consequences affecting their physical, social, and psychological well-being. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has estimated prevalence rates of around 3 percent and has been strongly associated with several psychopathologies, including depression. Given that emotion regulation (ER) and mindfulness are fluid constructs that can be enhanced, the potential for intervention and prevention is considerable. Thus, this study sought to, as a first step in determining clinical relevance, explore the differences in ER, mindfulness, and impulsivity among emerging adult gamers who met criteria for IGD, depression, or both IGD and depression (Dep + IGD). A sample of 1,536 gamers (45 percent male, Mage = 20.45 years old) completed an online survey, including an assessment for IGD, depression, difficulties with ER, impulsivity, and mindfulness. Relative to individuals below IGD and depression cutoffs (control), the clinical groups (IGD, depression, and Dep + IGD) reported greater ER difficulties, higher impulsivity, and lower mindfulness. Finally, relative to the IGD + depression group, the other two clinical groups had fewer difficulties with cognitive impulsivity, whereas the depression group reported more difficulties with strategy use. These results suggest that gamers should be considered a heterogeneous group and that comorbid disorders are important considerations when developing targeted treatments for individuals with IGD.

Two Lifestyle Risks Intertwined: Parental Smoking Predicts Child Gambling Behavior at Age 12 Years.

BACKGROUND: Parental smoking can create a toxic environment for child development. A parental smoking lifestyle can predispose children to executive deficits, influencing precocious risk activities. Using a prospective birth cohort design, we examine the association between 2 lifestyle factors by estimating the relative contribution of long-term parental household smoking in predicting subsequent precocious child gambling behavior. METHOD: Parents reported on the amount of household smoke exposure from ages 1.5 to 7.5 years for children from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. The main outcome measure was children's self-report of gambling behavior (at age 12 years). RESULTS: Sixty percent of parents reported that their children were never exposed to secondhand smoke in the home, while 27% and 13% reported transient and continuous levels of secondhand smoke, respectively. Overall, 16% of children reported gambling participation. When compared with never-exposed children, children exposed to secondhand smoke had 18% more chances of having participated in gambling at age 12 years (odds ratio = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.080-1.293). These results are adjusted for competing explanations and possible individual and family confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of early childhood household smoke exposure are associated with greater odds of reporting gambling participation at age 12 years, which is more than several years before it is normative youthful behavior. By connecting the neurotoxic influence of one lifestyle factor on another, we show a nontrivial link between 2 public health issues (smoke exposure and precocious gambling) associated with considerable individual and societal costs that are amenable to community information campaigns.

Systematic Review of Preventive Programs for Reducing Problem Gambling Behaviors Among Young Adults.

Young adulthood is a developmental period from late adolescence to one's late twenties or early thirties. Prevalence studies internationally have reported that individuals in this age group tend to have the highest rates of problem gambling. However, much of the prevention work designed to minimize the risk of problem and disordered gambling has been primarily focused on school settings and aimed at high school students. The objective of this study was to summarize the existing literature on the effectiveness of prevention programs aimed at reducing the prevalence of gambling problems in young adults. A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six electronic academic databases were consulted in order to examine the studies conducted during the last 20 years. After removing duplicates and adhering to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, nine studies were included in this review. All studies targeted college or university students and followed a selective or indicated prevention strategy. A Personalized Normative Feedback approach was incorporated in most of the studies, which had generally good results in reducing and/or minimizing at-risk or problem gambling. The limited number of studies included in this review highlights the need to address scientific quality standards before proceeding with the design, implementation and widespread dissemination of these preventive programs as well as the need to ensure the program's efficacy prior to implementation.

Behavioral Addictions: Excessive Gambling, Gaming, Internet, and Smartphone Use Among Children and Adolescents.

The introduction of behavioral addictions is a relatively new concept in psychiatry. It was not until 2010 that the term behavioral addictions was added to the official classification of psychiatric diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Gambling, typically thought to be an adult behavior, has become commonplace among adolescents. Although technological advances have made accessing information and communication easier, excessive use of the Internet and smartphones can result in multiple mental and physical health issues. Gambling disorders, gaming disorders, Internet use disorder, and excessive smartphone use often begin during childhood and adolescence.

Emotion regulation in emerging adult gamblers and its mediating role with depressive symptomology.

BACKGROUND: It is presently estimated that as much as 10% of emerging adults are at risk for a gambling disorder. The consequences stemming from problematic gambling engagement include increased substance use, mental health disorders, suicidality, financial strain and legal issues. The present study explores whether deficits in emotion regulation explain the association between problem gambling severity and depression. METHODS: A sample of 820 emerging adult gamblers (Mage = 21.14 years-old, SD = 2.90, 50.9% female) completed an online survey including an assessment of problematic engagement in gambling over the past year, levels of anxious/depressive symptomology, and difficulties in emotion regulation. In total, 15.6% and 8.2% of this sample were at moderate or high risk for gambling disorder. RESULTS: Results from a linear regression model revealed that difficulties with impulse control positively contributed to problem gambling scores and engagement in goal-directed behavior positively contributed to problem gambling scores, even after accounting for symptoms of depression. Moreover, results from a mediation model revealed that the association between problem gambling and depression was explained by participants' deficits in non-acceptance, goals, strategies, and clarity. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the use of self-report and cross-sectional data making it difficult to infer causality. CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to our understanding of the mechanisms that appear to explain for the first time the affective consequences of problem gambling. Enhancing specific dimensions of emotion regulation will allow for tailored interventions among gamblers with depression, ultimately achieving better mental health outcomes.