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Browne M, Hing N, Rockloff M, Russell AMT, Greer N, Nicoll F, Smith G. A Multivariate Evaluation of 25 Proximal and Distal Risk-Factors for Gambling-Related Harm. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8040509. [PMID: 31013926 PMCID: PMC6518151 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8040509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in the risk of developing gambling-related harm play an important role in theoretical models and practical interventions. The present study attempted comprehensive measurement and evaluation of 25 known risk factors for gambling-related harm in order to determine which factors provided large and unique explanatory power. We surveyed 1650 regular gamblers from an online panel, screening in 1174 (466 male) who passed all checks of attention and response consistency. We evaluated each risk factor based on bivariate correlations with harms, then made separate multivariate evaluations of proximal (e.g., gambling motivations) and distal (e.g., religiosity) risk factors. Almost all bivariate correlations were significant, but most distal factors were not significant in multivariate models. Trait impulsivity was the most important risk factor by a large margin. Excessive consumption, less use of safe gambling practices, and more fallacies were key proximal risks of harm. Many well-known correlates of gambling harm (e.g., youth, lower educational attainment) do not show a direct role in the development of gambling harm when controlling for other factors. The results support theoretical models that emphasise early conditioning and biological vulnerability (manifested through impulsivity). Since maladaptive cognitive and behavioural schemas appear to be more important than motivations (e.g., escape, excitement, ego), interventions may benefit by targeting these proximal drivers of harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Browne
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, University Drive Bundaberg, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia.
| | - Nerilee Hing
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, University Drive Bundaberg, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia.
| | - Matthew Rockloff
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, University Drive Bundaberg, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia.
| | - Alex M T Russell
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, University Drive Bundaberg, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia.
| | - Nancy Greer
- Experimental Gambling Research Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, University Drive Bundaberg, Branyan, QLD 4670, Australia.
| | - Fiona Nicoll
- Department of Political Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
| | - Garry Smith
- Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
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