Gambling Behaviour and Factors Associated with Problem Gambling among Older Adults

157 Pages·2012·8.15 MB·English

Gambling Behaviour and Factors Associated with Problem Gambling
among Older Adults
by
Jamie Wiebe
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor ofPhilosophy
Department of Community Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine
University of Manitoba
Wimipeg, Manitoba
@May2002
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Gambling Behaviour and Factors Associated with Problem Gambting among Older Adults
BY
Jamie Wiebe
A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies ofThe University
of Manitoba in partial fulfìllnent of the requirements ofthe degree
of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
JAMIE WIEBE @2002
Permission has been granted to the Library of The University of Manitoba to lend or sell copies
of this thesis/practicum, to the National Library ofCanada to microfilm this thesis and to lend
or sell copies of the filn, and to University Microfilm Inc. to publish an abstract of this
thesis/practicum.
The author reserves other publication rights, and neither this thesis/practicum nor extensive
extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the authorrs written
permission,
Abstract
The recent widespread expansion of gambling in North America has generated
concernSaboutpotentialsocialandeconomicimpacts.onegloupthathasbeenidentified
as potentially at-risk ofbeing negatively impacted by gambling expansion is older adults
(Kom and Shaffer, 1999). This shrdy had three main objectives: to examine the gambling
pattems ofolder adults, to identify factors associated with gambling and problem
gambling, and to examine the appropriateness ofusing existing measures ofproblem ì
gamblingwithanolderadultpopulation'Thedataweredrawnfromresearchconductedby
the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba in which telephone interviews were conducted
with a sample of5,000 older adults, 60 years and older, throughout the province. problem
gambling was determined from scores on the South Oaks Gambling Screen Revised
(SOGS-R) (Lesieur and Blume, 1987). The results showed gambling to be a fairly common
activityamongolderadults,with74.7%oofparticipantshavinggambledintheyearpriorto
higher
the study. Compared to nongamblers, gamblers tended to be younger, have '
incomes,havecompletedhighschool,belesslikelytobesingle,andbemorelikelyto
consumealcoho1andtobacco.ofthetotalsample,1'6,'/oweregamblingatproblem1evels'
i;
and a further 1.2o/o were gambling at probable pathological levels. A series of logistic
;
regressions were conducted to examine factors associated with nonproblem and problem
gambling. The results revealed few differences between those gambling at nonproblem and
problem levels. Problem gamblers were more likely to be male and reporl feelings of
anxiety and depression. There were no differences related to income, social suppofi,
education, employrnent, age, location ofresidence, perceived health statr.rs or substance
use. Finally, inspection of the psychometric properties ofthe SOGS-R showecl that the
instrument might not be an appropriate tool for assessing problem gambling among older
adults. The results from this study highlight areas for fuither research as well as identify
directions for public awareness messages, prevention initiatives and treatment strategies
for older adults.
Acknorvledgmenfs
I am gratefrrl to so many people for the assistance and support they provided me in
completing this dissertation.
my
Most importantly, I want to acknowledge the enolmous contributions of
,
commitment
advisor, Dr. Ron Norton. Dr. Norton provided endless support, direction and
:
to this project. He has been a true mentor, and the knowledge and lessons I gained from
research.
him will prove invaluable to me as I continue my career in
l
I want to thank my committee, Dr. Barbara Payne and Dr. Kue Young for their .:
:
insightfulreviewsandencouragement.Theircontributionsgreatlyenhancedthequalityof
this dissertation. I am also very grateful to my external advisor, Dr. Harold Wyrure. As one
:
significantly
ofthe leading experts in the gambling research field, Dr. Wynne's feedback
:
improved this dissertation.
I want to thank the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM), with a special
thanks to John Borody. I relied on John's suppoft thoughout this entire process.
IwanttothanktheResponsibleGamblingCouncil(ontario)andtheCanadian
also
Centre on Substance Abuse, with special thanks to Jon Kelly and Michel Per¡on. I
:.
¡
Agata
want to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of my co-worker at the RGC(O),
...
me. l
Falkowski-Ham. She was a constant source of assistance and support to
Last,butdefinitelynotleast,Icouldnothavedonethiswithoutmyfamily(mom,
DaleandKris)andmyfriendswhobelievedthatIcoulddoit(often,molesothanI)and
t.
whoprovidedenduringsrtppofiandencouragement.Ilvanttogiveaveryspecialthanksto
PeterVernonforhisencouragementandforsharingthisincredib1yimpor1antpar1ofmy
life.
TABLE OX'CONTENTS
Abstract
Acknorvledgments
Table of Contents
List of Tables vu
List of Figures ix
I:
CHÀPTER Introduction
1
CHAPTER 2: Literature Revierv 5
Gambling participation 7
Measurement of Problem Gambling
11
Prevalence of Problem Gambling 14
Conceptual Framework for Understanding Problem Gambling 18
Determinants of Health and Problem Gambling 23
Income and Social Status 23
Social Support Networks 24
Education ¿)
Employment and Working Conditions ¿o
Biology and Genetic Endowments 28
Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills 29
Physical Environment 30
Healthy Child Development 30
Health Services 31
Research Questions 32
CHAPTER3: Methodology 33
Sampling 33
Procedures 35
Data Description 36
Data Analysis 39
Definition of Terms 4l
Design Limitations 43
CHAPTER 4: Results 45
Gambling Patterns 45
Gambling Prevalence (nongamblers, nonproblem, problem
and probable pathological gamblers) 46
Gambling Activities 46
Time and Money Spent 50
Reasons for Gambling 52
SOGS-R Properties 56
Factors Related to ProbÌem Gambling 60
NonGamblers and Gamblers 61
Income and Social Status 61
Social Support oz
Education 63
Employment and Working Conditions 63
Biology and Genetic Endowment 64
Physical Environment 6s
Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills 65
NonProblem and P¡oblem Gamblers 67
Income and Social Status 67
Social Support 68
Education 69
Employment and Working Conditions 70
Biology and Genetic Endowment 71
Physical Environment 72
Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills 73
Predictors of Problem versus Nonproblem Gambling 76
Income and Social Status 81
Social Support 82
Education 82
Employment and Working Conditions 82
Biology and Genetic Endowment 83
Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills 83
Physical Environment 8s
Factors Associated wilh Percent of Income Spent on Gambling 85
CHAPTER 5: Discussion 89
Gambling Pattems 89
SOGS-R Properties 95
Factors Related to Problem Gambling 98
Future Research 101
References 104
Appendix A: SOGS-R Questions 110
Appendix B: Telephone Questionnaire 115
Appendix C: Pair Wise Comparison l3t
LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1: Problem Gambling Rates in Canada and Elsewhere 15
Table 3.1: Comparison of the Manitoba Population Age 60 and Over with
the Study Sample by Region J+
Table 3.2: Comparison by Age between the Actual Population and Study
Sample J)
Table 3.3: Indicators of the Determinants of Health
Table 3.4: Logistic Regression Predictor Variables 40
Table 4.1: Participation in Gambling Activities by gambling Category in the
Past 12 Months 47
Table 4,22 Weekly Gambling by Gambling Category 49
Table 4.3: Money Spent on Gambling in an Average Month by Gambling
Category 51
Table 4.42 Amount of Time Spent Gambling by Gambling Category 52
Table 4.5: Reasons for Gambling by Gambling Category 53
Table 4.6: ImpoÍance of Gambling as an Activity by Gambling Category 54
Table 4,72 Gambling Now Compared to 10 Years Ago 55
Table 4.8: Endorsement of SOGS-R Items by Gambling Category >/
Table 4.9: Frequency of SOGS-R Item Endorsement by Level of SOGS-R
Score s9
Table 4.10: Factor Loading for SOGS-R Items 60
Table 4.11: Household income by Gambling Participation 61
Table 4zl2: Marital Status by Gambling Participation 62
Table 4:13: Having Someone to Talk to When Dealing with Problem by
Gambling Parlicipation 62
Table 4:14: Educational Attainment by Gambling Participation 63
Table 4:15: Employment Status by Gambling Participation OJ
Table 4:16: Gender by Garnbling Parlicipation 64
Table 4:17: Age by Gambling Participation 64
Table 4.18: Regional Distribution by Gambling Participation 65
Table 4.19: Health Status by Gambling Participation 65
Table 4,20: Feeling Anxious, Upset or Depressecl by Gambling
Participation 66
Table 4.21: Substance Use by Gambling Participation 67
Table 4.22: Household lncome by Garnbling Categoly 68
Table 4,23: Marital Status by Gambling Category 68
Table 4.241 Wliethel respondents can talk to family or a friend about
problems they are having by garnbling category 69
Table 4.25: Education by Gambling Category 70
Table 4.26: Employment StatLrs by Garnbling Categoly 70
Table 4.27: Genclel by Gambling Category 71
Table 4.28: Age Breakclorvn by Gambling Categoty 72
Table 4.29: Regional Distribution by Gambling Category 72
Table 4.30: Ratings of Health Status by Gambling Category IJ
Table 4.31: Feeling Anxious, Upset or Depressed by Gambling Categor.y t4
Table 4.321 Substance Use by Gambling Categor.y IJ
Table 4.33: Multiple Analysis (SOGS Score by Health Determinants) 77
Table 4.34: Biology and Genetic Endowment Logistic Model
83
Table 4.35: Personal Health Practices and Coping Styles Logistic Model 84
Table 4.36: Full model-Predictors of Percent of Income Spent on
Gambling
87
Table 4.37: Reduced Model---Predictors of Percent of Income Spent on
Gambling
88
Table 5.1: Comparison of Gambling Prevalence Rates 90
C,4,1: Participation in Gambling Activities by Gambling Category 132
C.4.22 Weekly Gambling by Gambling Category 133
C.4,3: $ Spent on Gambling in an Average Month by Gambling Category 134
C.4.4: Amount of Time Spent Gambling by Gambling Category 134
C.4.5: Reasons for Gambling by Gambling Category 13s
C.4.6: lmportance of Gambling as an Activity by Gambling Category 135
C.4.7: Gambling Now Compared to l0 Years Ago by Gambling Category 136
C.4.11: Household Income by Gambling Participation 136
C.4,12: Marital Status by Gambling Participation tJ I
C.4.14: Educational Attainment by Gambling Participation 137
C,4,17: Age by Gambling Participation 138
C.4.21: Substance Use by Gambling Participation t38
C.4.22: Household Income by Gambling Category 139
C.4.25: Education by Gambling Category 140
C.4.27: Gend,er by Gambling Category 141
C,4,28: Age by Gambling Category t42
C.4.30: Rating of Health by Gambling Category 143
C.4.31: Feeling Anxious, Upset or Depressed by Gambling Category 144
C.4.32: Substance Use by Gambling Category r4s