Gambler clusters and problem gambling severity: A cluster analysis of Swedish gamblers accessing an online problem gambling screener.

Wall, Håkan; Berman, Anne H.; Jayaram‐Lindström, Nitya; Hellner, Clara; Rosendahl, Ingvar

doi:10.1037/adb0000674

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Importantly, gambling on high-risk games was the strongest predictor of gambling problems and increased gambling frequency both during the first and second wave of the pandemic. These findings support previous research which shows that certain game types, such as online casino games and EGMs, are associated with PG ( Binde et al, 2017 ; Wall et al, 2020 ). Further, a recent study from the United Kingdom found that the vast majority stopped or reduced their gambling involvement during lockdown, but among men who switched game types, PG was more common ( Sharman et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…A Swedish study found that past-month gambling during the pandemic had a stronger association with PG compared to past year gambling for several game types (i.e., any sports betting, land-based casinos, and EGMs); however, for online horse betting, an opposite association was found ( Håkansson, 2020 ). This is in line with previous research pointing toward an important indicator of PG which is frequent gambling on high-risk games, such as EGMs and online casinos, a relationship that is well established ( Binde et al, 2017 ; Wall et al, 2020 ). These high-risk games are characterized by short intervals between bet and outcome and when a new bet can be placed, which provides almost unlimited gambling opportunities ( Griffiths and Auer, 2013 ).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Nevertheless, we cannot disregard the risk of collider bias, i.e., that having recently developed gambling problems and gambled on online casinos where the Swedish National Helplines' website is linked, might influence individuals to enroll in an online survey on gambling and be included in the present sample. At the same time, the results do not point in that direction since the high-risk factors which were identified in the present study, are in line with previous studies based on samples from the general population (Public Health Agency, 2019;Auer et al, 2020) and on samples of IPGs (e.g., Ronzitti et al, 2018;Wall et al, 2020).…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Based on previous research, online slots, online live-betting and EGMs were defined as game types associated with increased high-risk of PG, further on referred to as high-risk games ( Griffiths and Auer, 2013 ; Binde et al, 2017 ; Lopez-Gonzalez et al, 2019 ; Wall et al, 2020 ). One variable regarding high-risk games was constructed: any high-risk game , the variable was coded as “1” if a participant reported gambling on a high-risk game and “0” if not.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Longitudinal Study of Gambling Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sweden

et al. 2021

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This study aimed to investigate changes in gambling behaviors during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. Participants who had gambled within the past year were recruited from social media and the Swedish National Helpline (n = 325, mean age 39.8 years, 64.8% males, 31.3% with problem gambling) and completed an online survey measuring gambling behaviors, consequences of the pandemic in general and worries related to the pandemic. A sub-sample (n = 139) completed a follow-up survey, during the second wave. The results showed no significant associations between COVID-19 consequences (financial or increased isolation) and increased monthly gambling behavior. No major migrations were observed between game types. However, gambling on a high-risk game (OR = 7.44, p < 0.001) and worrying about mental health due to the pandemic (OR = 2.85, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with past year gambling problems and increased monthly gambling problems from the first to the second wave. More longitudinal research is needed in vulnerable populations, to fully understand the long-term consequences of the pandemic.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Strengths and Limitationssupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Longitudinal Study of Gambling Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sweden

et al. 2021

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“…The helpline is funded by the government and has no affiliations with the gambling industry. Previous research on the helpline’s online problem gambling screener indicate that gamblers who come in contact with the helpline via its webpage experience severe gambling problems (Wall, Berman, Jayaram-Lindström, Hellner, & Rosendahl 2020 ). The helpline also offers an online self-help program without therapist support at its website for gamblers who want to change their gambling habits on their own.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of a Brief Online Self-help Program for Concerned Gamblers

et al. 2021

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and module content of a brief online self-help program for concerned gamblers, i.e., gamblers who perceived a need to change their gambling habits, in the context of a gambling helpline. The program consisted of four modules based on Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), covering motivation to change, logging gambling behaviors, planning and implementing gambling-free activities, and managing risk situations. Gambling expenditures were also logged in the program, and their development over time were analyzed as longitudinal data using marginalized two-part models. Out of 4655 gamblers recruited via the helpline’s webpage, 92% completed content in at least one module, and 23% were active in all four modules. Attrition was in general high, with only 10% retention in the gambling log for longer than 14 days. Gambling expenditures decreased for those who logged them for a shorter time period, whereas it increased for those who logged expenditures for a longer time period. This study shows that it is relatively easy to recruit participants to an online program for concerned gamblers in the context of a gambling helpline. However, since few users logged in to the program more than once, we suggest future online programs to have open modules with all content accessible at once.

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Clinical Differences of mild, Moderate, and Severe Gambling Disorder in a Sample of Treatment Seeking Pathological Gamblers in Sweden

2023

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Introduction: Gambling disorder (GD) is classified among the addictive disorders in the DSM-5 and the severity of the diagnosis can be specified as mild, moderate and severe. It has been seen that individuals with more severe gambling problems have a higher rate of comorbid disorders and other health problems compared to individuals with a milder clinical picture. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore clinical psychiatric differences related to the severity of disorder in treatment-seeking patients with GD. Method: A sample of 163 patients with GD seeking treatment at an outpatient clinic was diagnosed using the SCI-GD, screened for comorbid diagnoses using the MINI, and further completed a range of self-report questionnaires measuring alcohol-, and drug-problems, symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotion regulation, cognitive distortions, and quality of life. Results: Greater severity was associated to more problems with alcohol and illicit drugs. Severe gamblers were more likely to gamble to “escape”, and had more symptoms of depression and anxiety. Participants with moderate and severe gambling disorder had more difficulties with emotion regulation. Cognitive distortions were the same between severities. All groups had Quality-of-Life problems at a clinical level. Discussion: There are some distinctive differences between GD of different severities. The features shown by patients with severe GD indicates a more emotionally vulnerable group with increased symptom severity. Further knowledge about the features of GD severity levels is important for treatment planning in the clinic.

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Gambler clusters and problem gambling severity: A cluster analysis of Swedish gamblers accessing an online problem gambling screener.

Cited by 12 publications

References 33 publications

A Longitudinal Study of Gambling Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sweden

A Longitudinal Study of Gambling Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sweden

Evaluation of a Brief Online Self-help Program for Concerned Gamblers

Clinical Differences of mild, Moderate, and Severe Gambling Disorder in a Sample of Treatment Seeking Pathological Gamblers in Sweden

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