The bidirectional relationship between gambling and addictive substances

Interactive Effects of Problem-Gambling Severity, Gender and Alcohol Consumption on Electronic Gaming Machine Behaviour

While comorbidity of problematic alcohol and gambling use is well established, much less is known about the way in which alcohol consumption while gambling interacts with problem-gambling severity and other individual differences. We hypothesised three factors that would interact with alcohol consumption while gambling on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) to influence four behavioural gambling measures: preferred number of lines bet, average duration of play, average spend per session and preferred electronic gaming machine denomination. The latter is a measure of gambler’s preference for the monetary denomination in which EGM bets are placed (e.g. 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, $1), with higher denomination EGMs being higher risk since bets can be placed in larger amounts and money can be lost more rapidly. The three hypothesised interacting factors were problem-gambling severity, presence/absence of alcohol use disorder and biological gender. A total of 1557 male and female participants completed a questionnaire, measuring their problem-gambling status, problem alcohol status, consumption of alcohol at the gambling venue, preferred EGM denomination, preferred number of lines bet, average duration of play and average spend per session. We found the anticipated gender-differential spending effect with males spending more than females, but we also found a surprising reverse differential spending effect for problem gamblers such that females spent more than males. We also found that alcohol consumption while gambling was generally associated with a preference for higher denomination machines and that those players without alcohol problems who drank at the venue preferred to bet on more lines, suggesting a double-max strategy amongst gamblers who drank at the venue. Finally, for non-problem and low-risk gamblers, concurrent alcohol consumption was related to preference for higher denomination EGMs in female players, but not for male players. These findings are discussed in the context of the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol.

Do Financial Literacy and Financial Education Influence Smoking Behavior in the United States?

Smoking is still a serious economic, health, and social problem despite various efforts to curb its prevalence. We examined the influence of financial literacy and financial education on the smoking behavior in the United States in terms of the use of rational decision-making abilities to reduce irrational behavior. We hypothesized that financial literacy and financial education, as proxies for rational decision making, would reduce the likelihood of smoking. We used data from the Preference Parameters Study (PPS) of Osaka University conducted in the United States in 2010 and applied probit regression models to test our hypothesis on a sample of 3831 individuals. We found that financially literate people are less likely to be smokers, though we found no clear role of financial education in reducing the likelihood of smoking. Further, respondents' gender, age, unemployment status, and risky health behaviors such as drinking and gambling, have a significantly positive association with smoking, while marital status, university degree, family size, household income, household assets, physical exercise, and level of happiness have a significantly negative association. Our findings suggest that financial literacy, as an instrument encouraging rational decision making, could be a tool to help reduce smoking in the United States.

Financial Literacy, Financial Education, and Smoking Behavior: Evidence From Japan

In this study, we examine the relationship between financial literacy, financial education, and smoking behavior among the Japanese population. We hypothesize that financially literate and financially educated people, who have the ability to make more rational decisions, are less likely to smoke. Using the Preference Parameters Study of Osaka University, conducted in 2010 (N = 3,706), the probit regression results show that both financial literacy (with an emphasis on knowledge of investments) and financial education (with an emphasis on savings behavior) have a significant negative impact on smoking behavior. In addition, gender, age, education, marital status, household income and assets, risky behaviors, a myopic view of the future, risk preference, and level of happiness also significantly predict the likelihood of a person being a current smoker. This study provides empirical evidence that enhancing the rational decision-making ability of individuals through financial literacy and financial education may curtail smoking behavior.

Where Do Gambling Problems Fit in the Structure of Psychopathology During Emerging Adulthood?

Research suggests major mental disorders co-occur at higher than chance levels. In adult samples, a two factor structure emerges when modeling the higher order structure of psychopathology. Specifically, disorders tend to co-aggregate into two dimensions: Internalizing (depression and anxiety) and Externalizing (acting out, impulsive, and addictive) disorders. Despite this large body of evidence, few studies have integrated problem gambling into this overall model. We used confirmatory factor analysis to model how the symptom count of gambling fits into the structure of psychopathology in a large, community based young adult twin sample of men and women (age 24; N=1329). Twins were assessed via in-person, structured diagnostic interviews on disorders including: Major Depression, Phobias, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Anxiety Disorders (internalizing) and Substance Use Disorders, Gambling Problems (self-report), and Antisocial Behaviors (externalizing). The data were fit to a two-factor structure, with gambling symptoms loading most highly on externalizing, rather than internalizing. The problem gambling loadings did not differ by sex. Implications of these findings suggest that during emerging adulthood gambling problems are best classified and conceptualized in the realm of externalizing disorders for both males and females. Results also suggest prevention and intervention efforts be aimed at young adults who exhibit commonly co-occurring psychopathology.

Killing two birds with one stone? Association between tobacco and alcohol consumption

OBJECTIVES

Tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption are addictive behaviours, listed among the 10 leading risk factors that cause death and disability in the world, and health consequences are greater if their consumption is combined. There is sparse empirical evidence on the variables that influence the simultaneous consumption of tobacco and alcohol. This study aims to identify the variables that influence the joint decision to consume alcohol and tobacco, and that encourage drinkers to smoke.

STUDY DESIGN

The sample includes Portuguese adults, mainly aged 50 years and over, extracted from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, covering the year 2011.

METHODS

We propose a bivariate probit model, which allows us to model simultaneously the two goods, accounting for potential correlation between smoking and drinking decisions.

RESULTS

We identified the variables that influence joint consumption, and tobacco consumption among drinkers, which could be used as policy instruments to develop concerted policies. Prevention policies should focus on males, younger and more educated individuals, as well as on individuals with unhealthy eating habits, because these variables were statistically significant and increased joint consumption. In addition, these characteristics also should be regarded if we want to control tobacco consumption among alcohol consumers.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis of the interdependence between alcohol and tobacco use presented in this article may allow reducing their consumption with a common intervention, enabling policymakers to 'kill two birds with one stone' and to achieve extended health and economic gains.