Gambling and gaming during COVID-19: The role of mental health and social motives in gambling and gaming problems

Savolainen, Ilkka; Vuorinen, Ilkka; Sirola, Anu; Oksanen, Atte

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152331

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…In a recent meta-analysis, Marciano found that although most studies reported a positive association between ill-being and social media use ( r = 0.171, p = 0.011) and ill-being and media addiction ( r = 0.434, p = 0.024), with social comparison, fear of missing out, and exposure to negative contents as risk factors ( 51 ). Moreover, COVID-19 anxiety was related to both gambling problems (IRR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01–1.09) and online gaming problems (IRR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01–1.05) ( 52 ). Faced with this problematic use of the internet, some authors have proposed strategies not only to limit these disorders but also their impacts in terms of mental health, in particular with complications of depression and anxiety, such as general prevention with internet use embedded in daily routines and general lifestyles, and increasing contacts with relatives ( 53 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychoactive substance use, internet use and mental health changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in a French population: A study of gender effect

et al. 2022

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IntroductionCOVID-19 has enormous impacts on each individual. The goals of our study were (1) to assess the rate of internet and psychoactive substance use, clinical depression and anxiety in a French population during the lockdown (2) to study the role of clinical and socio-demographic variables (especially, gender).Materials and methodsDuring lockdown, an online anonymous questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic and health data, previous psychiatric history, anterior and current internet and psychoactive substance use, current anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. The associations of socio-demographic, clinical variables with anxiety, depression, internet or psychoactive substance use were examined.ResultsThe study included 263 participants (aged 38.1 ± 15.3−197 males and 64 females). During the lockdown, internet use increased in 14.4% of cases, alcohol use in 20.2%, and tobacco use in 6.8%. In contrast, more participants reported a decrease in alcohol, tobacco or illicit drug use (25.9, 24, and 27.8% respectively). Anxiety was reported in 62.4% and depression in 20.2% of cases; 29.7% of participants reported an increase in anxiety and 25.5% an increase in depression. Depression was associated with an increase in internet and tobacco use. Tobacco and alcohol use were positively associated and an increase in use was more frequent in previous users of both substances. Maintaining a daily routine and relationships with family, being self-employed were associated to lower risks of depression and anxiety.ConclusionHigher rates of internet use, as well as depression and anxiety, were observed during the lockdown. Gender was not a significant associated factor.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychoactive substance use, internet use and mental health changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in a French population: A study of gender effect

et al. 2022

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“…Problem gambling was measured with the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), which is a standardized measure developed for survey research to assess problematic gambling in non-clinical context (Ferris & Wynne, 2001 ; Holtgraves, 2009 ). The PGSI is one of the most frequently used instruments to assess problem gambling in population studies, and it has shown good psychometric properties across different countries (Abbott et al, 2018 ; Raisamo et al, 2015; Savolainen et al, 2022a ). It has also been widely utilized in survey research during the pandemic to assess pandemic-time gambling problems (Sachdeva et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is evidence that resilience could protect people from problem gambling, particularly among youth (Lussier et al, 2007 ), but studies on adult problem gambling have not found evidence regarding the protective role of resilience (Mishra et al, 2019 ; Oei & Goh, 2015 ; Scholes-Balog et al, 2015 ). During the pandemic, experiencing mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety, was associated with gambling problems (Savolainen et al, 2022a ; Sharman et al, 2021 ), and it is plausible to expect that those with higher resilience would have been less prone to engage in addictive behaviors during the pandemic due to more positive mental health. Therefore, we tested the following hypothesis: H7: Resilience is negatively associated with problem gambling.…”

Section: Theoretical Background and Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Problem gambling is often accompanied by negative emotions and psychological distress, such as anxiety or depression (Barrault & Varescon, 2013 ; Oksanen et al, 2018 ). Anxiety and worry related to the pandemic can also increase mental health problems, which can manifest in problematic gambling (Savolainen et al, 2022a ). Thus, we hypothesized the following: H8: COVID-19 worry is positively associated with problem gambling.…”

Section: Theoretical Background and Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In these culturally relatively similar European countries, gambling is a popular activity, and gambling problems are relatively common (Calado & Griffiths, 2016 ). Additionally, problem gambling and related problems have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic in these countries (Håkansson, 2020a , b ; Savolainen et al, 2022a ; Sharman et al, 2021 ). Regarding pandemic safety measures, these countries adopted different strategies over the course of the pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychosocial Perspective on Problem Gambling: The role of Social Relationships, Resilience, and COVID-19 Worry

2023

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The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified several psychosocial risks and problem behaviors among vulnerable individuals. Given that gambling has high addictive potential, it is important to consider the underlying mechanisms of problem gambling. This study examined psychosocial factors associated with pandemic-time problem gambling.Cross-sectional data were gathered via an online survey of 18–75-year-old Finnish, Swedish, and British respondents (n = 2,022) who reported having gambled at least occasionally during the pandemic. Measures included problem gambling, loneliness, COVID-19 worry, social support, and psychological resilience. Control variables included gender, age, and education. Structural equation modeling was used as an analytical technique.Loneliness was found to be associated with problem gambling. While COVID-19 worry was not directly associated with problem gambling, it predicted higher loneliness, which in turn was associated with problem gambling. Evidence was not found regarding the protective role of resilience or social support in problem gambling. However, social support was found to be associated with higher problem gambling severity. Male gender and younger age were associated with problem gambling.The results bring insight into underlying vulnerabilities regarding problem gambling during the pandemic. More focus should be placed on the quality and sources of social support, as well as on how psychosocial risk and protective factors might work differently among different populations of gamblers.

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What are escapists made of, and what does it have to do with excessive gambling and gaming?

Jouhki,

Savolainen,

Hagfors

et al. 2024

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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Research shows that escapism and frustration of basic psychological needs are linked with gambling and gaming problems, but an effect of escapism combined with restricted autonomy, competence, and relatedness on excessive gambling and gaming remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify shared characteristics of people who engage in escapist behavior and analyze to what extent the interaction of escapism and basic psychological need frustration predicts excessive gambling and gaming. We conducted a five-wave longitudinal survey with Finnish residents aged 18–75 years (n = 1530, 50.33% male) from April 2021 (T1) to April–May 2023 (T5). Measures included the Problem Gambling Severity Index, the ten-item Internet Gaming Disorder Test, and three escapism-specific questions. We analyzed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, sociodemographic controls, and personality traits using multilevel regression models. We found that escapism was related to autonomy frustration, competence frustration, male gender, impulsivity, openness, and having a significant other who has experienced gambling problems. Escapism predicted excessive gambling, and competence frustration moderated this association. Escapism also predicted excessive gaming, and autonomy frustration and competence frustration moderated this association. Research on and treatment of excessive gambling and gaming should consider these underlying factors driving escapism.

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Gambling and gaming during COVID-19: The role of mental health and social motives in gambling and gaming problems

Cited by 20 publications

References 58 publications

Psychoactive substance use, internet use and mental health changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in a French population: A study of gender effect

Psychoactive substance use, internet use and mental health changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in a French population: A study of gender effect

Psychosocial Perspective on Problem Gambling: The role of Social Relationships, Resilience, and COVID-19 Worry

What are escapists made of, and what does it have to do with excessive gambling and gaming?

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