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Behaviour Change Strategies Endorsed by Gamblers Subtyped by Psychological Distress, Risky Alcohol Use, and Impulsivity

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Abstract

Problem gambling is often accompanied by co-morbid psychiatric disorders and maladaptive personality traits. Subtyping gamblers based on these pervasive comorbidities has been attempted so as to aid understanding of the aetiology of problem gambling and inform treatment options. However, there has been less focus on subtyping gamblers with (past or current) or without a history of problem gambling, or on providing more specific treatment or self-help recommendations. The current study sought to subtype current-, past-, and non-problem gamblers using three common comorbidities; psychological distress, risky alcohol use, and impulsivity. Participants’ endorsement of helpful behaviour change strategies was also examined by subtype membership. A total of 385 participants were recruited who had a current gambling problem (n = 128; 33%), a past gambling problem (n = 131, 34%) or never had a gambling problem (n = 126, 33%). Hierarchical cluster analysis identified distinct subtypes of current (i.e., low comorbidity, high psychological distress, risky alcohol use and high comorbidity), past (i.e., low comorbidity, high psychological distress and high comorbidity) and non-problem gamblers (i.e., low comorbidity, high psychological distress, risky alcohol use and moderate impulsivity). The most helpful change strategies for current and past gamblers were similar across subtypes (i.e., accept that gambling needs to change, remind yourself of the negative consequences). Non-problem gamblers reported the most helpful strategy as setting financial limits. This study indicated that treatment of psychological distress, risky alcohol use or impulsivity may be important for all gamblers regardless of their level of risk.

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Funding

Funding for this study was provided by Gambling Research Australia (GRA) (Grant No. CD/13/160721). GRA had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication. Funding for the preparation of this paper was from the Faculty of Medical Health Sciences, University of Auckland (3714127). University of Auckland had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Brenna Knaebe & Simone N. Rodda

  2. Turning Point, Eastern Health, Richmond, Australia

    Simone N. Rodda & Dan I. Lubman

  3. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia

    Simone N. Rodda

  4. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    David C. Hodgins

  5. Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Dan I. Lubman

Authors
  1. Brenna Knaebe
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  2. Simone N. Rodda
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  3. David C. Hodgins
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  4. Dan I. Lubman
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Contributions

SNR, DCH, DIL designed the study and wrote the protocol. BK conducted the data analysis. BK wrote the first draft of the manuscript and all authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simone N. Rodda.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Knaebe, B., Rodda, S.N., Hodgins, D.C. et al. Behaviour Change Strategies Endorsed by Gamblers Subtyped by Psychological Distress, Risky Alcohol Use, and Impulsivity. J Gambl Stud 35, 275–292 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-018-9803-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-018-9803-x

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