Gender-Related Differences in the Characteristics of Problem Gamblers Using a Gambling Helpline

Potenza, Marc N.; Steinberg, Marvin A.; McLaughlin, S.; Wu, Rongqian; Rounsaville, Bruce J.; O’Malley, Stephanie S.

doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.158.9.1500

Cited by 377 publications

(337 citation statements)

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“…However, it is worth considering that this finding may be influenced by the higher average age of male participants in this study. Nevertheless this is contradictory to the research for offline gambling which would suggest that women appear to start gambling later in life compared to men (Hing & Breen, 2001;Ladd & Petry, 2002;Potenza et al, 2001;Tavares, et al, 2001). However, it is thought that women typically have a faster progression to pathological gambling than men (Wenzel & Dahl, 2008), although this was not explored in this particular study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Based on research into offline gambling, males may be more likely to gamble for excitement or thrill seeking, while for women, gambling may be related to modulation of adverse moods (Grant & Kim 2002;Ladd & Petry 2002;Potenza et al, 2001). Boredom has been found to be a motivating factor for gambling among women (Brown & Coventry, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Males tend prefer sports betting, animal racing and strategic games like blackjack and poker, while females tend to prefer non-strategic games like slot machines, bingo, and lottery activities (Ladd & Petry, 2002;Potenza, et al, 2001;Wenzel & Dahl, 2008) although there are some cultural differences such as male youth preferring slot machines in Great Britain . In Great Britain, men are more likely to participate in a greater number of gambling activities (1.9 per year and 1.3 per year respectively) .…”

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confidence: 99%

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An Empirical Study of Gender Differences in Online Gambling

2012

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Gambling has typically been considered a predominately male activity. However, recent prevalence surveys have shown greater numbers of females are now gambling. Much of the gambling literature suggests online gamblers are more likely to be male, and that problem gamblers are more likely to be male. Males and females are also likely to be gambling for different reasons and have a preference for different gambling activities.. Little is known about the pattern of play among female online gamblers. The aim of this survey was to develop a better profile of female online gamblers and to examine any gender differences between males and females in terms of how and why they gamble online, their frequency of online gambling, patterns of play, as well as attitudes to online gambling. The survey was posted on 32 international online gambling websites and was completed by 975 online gamblers (including 175 female online gamblers). Chi-square tests of association were conducted to examine the association between gender and a range of variables. The results showed that females had been gambling online for a shorter duration of time than males, had much shorter online gambling sessions, different motivations for gambling online (i.e. to practice for free, to spend less money and out of boredom), and experienced online gambling differently to males, with increased feelings of guilt and shame for gambling online. This suggests there is still a stigma around gambling particularly evident among females in this study. The findings indicate that clinicians and treatment providers need to be aware of these potential gender differences in online gambling to develop appropriately tailored interventions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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An Empirical Study of Gender Differences in Online Gambling

2012

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“…Women were more likely to be cohabitating with a problem gambler whilst having fewer alcohol and legal problems (Ladd & Petry, 2002). Potenza and colleagues (2001) established that in help-seeking gamblers, more men reported problems with strategic gambling forms such as poker whereas women preferred more non-strategic and less socially shared forms such as EGMs (Potenza et al, 2001). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does gender moderate the subjective measurement and structural paths in behavioural and cognitive aspects of gambling disorder in treatment-seeking adults?

Smith

Battersby

Harvey

2015

Addictive Behaviors

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'This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Smith D, Battersby M and Harvey P (2015) Does gender moderate the subjective measurement and structural paths in behavioural and cognitive aspects of gambling disorder in treatment-seeking adults? Addictive Abstract IntroductionGender differences have been observed in the pathogenesis of gambling disorder and gambling related urge and cognitions are predictive of relapse to problem gambling. A better understanding of these mechanisms concurrently may help in the development of more directed therapies. MethodsWe evaluated gender effects on behavioural and cognitive paths to gambling disorder from self-report data. Participants (N=454) were treatment-seeking problem gamblers on first presentation to a gambling therapy service between January 2012 and December 2014. We firstly investigated if aspects of gambling related urge, cognitions (interpretive bias and gambling expectancies) and gambling severity were more central to men than women.Subsequently, a full structural equation model tested if gender moderated behavioural and cognitive paths to gambling severity. ResultsMen (n=280, mean age=37.4 years, SD=11.4) were significantly younger than women (n=174, mean age=48.7 years, SD=12.9) (p< 0.001). There was no gender difference in conceptualising latent constructs of problem gambling severity, gambling related urge, interpretive bias and gambling expectancies. The paths for urge to gambling severity and interpretive bias to gambling severity were stronger for men than women and statistically significant (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively) whilst insignificant for women (p = 0.164 and p = 0.149, respectively). Structural paths for gambling expectancies to gambling severity were insignificant for both men and women. ConclusionThis study detected an important signal in terms of theoretical mechanisms to explaining gambling disorder and gender differences. It has implications for treatment development including relapse prevention.

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“…also been previously shown in Finland (Raisamo & Salonen, 2013). It may well be that males are more prone to gambling behaviour than are females (Chalmers & Willoughby, 2006) or in turn that social norms may partly protect females, as females' attitudes towards gambling are more negative and they are less vulnerable than men to developing gambling problems (Hing, Russell, Tolchard, & Nower, 2014;Potenza et al, 2001;Salonen et al, 2014;Salonen & Raisamo, 2015). It is important to note that cultural factors influence gender-specific prevalence rates, as for example addictive behaviours may be more acceptable among males (Swendsen & Le Moal, 2011 (Räsänen et al, 2015b), which may partially explain the high prevalence of underage gambling.…”

Section: Prevalence Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

At-Risk and Problem Gambling among Finnish Youth: The Examination of Risky Alcohol Consumption, Tobacco Smoking, Mental Health and Loneliness as Gender-Specific Correlates

Edgren

Castrén

Jokela

et al. 2016

Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

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AIMS -The aims were to compare past-year at-risk and problem gambling (ARPG) and other at-risk behaviours (computer gaming, risky alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking) by age and gender, and to explore how ARPG is associated with risky alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, poor mental health and loneliness in males and females. DESIGN -Data from respondents aged 15-28 (n = 822) were derived from a cross-sectional random sample of population-based data (n = 4484). The data were collected in 2011-2012 by telephone interviews. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI, score≥2) was used to evaluate ARPG. Prevalence rates for risk behaviours were compared for within gender-specific age groups. Regression models were gender-specific. RESULTS -The proportion of at-risk and problem gamblers was higher among males than females in all age groups except among 18-21-year-olds, while frequent computer gaming was higher among males in all age groups. The odds ratio (95% CI) of being a male ARPGer was 2.57 (1.40-4.74) for risky alcohol consumption; 1.95 (1.07-3.56) for tobacco smoking; 2.63 (0.96-7.26) for poor mental health; and 4.41 (1.20-16.23) for feeling lonely. Likewise, the odds ratio (95% CI) of being a female ARPGer was 1.19 (0.45-3.12) for risky alcohol consumption; 4.01 (1.43-11.24) for tobacco smoking; 0.99 (0.18-5.39) for poor mental health; and 6.46 (1.42-29.34) for feeling lonely. All 95% CIs of ARPG correlates overlapped among males and females. CONCLUSIONS -Overall, past-year at-risk and problem gambling and computer gaming seem to be more common among males than females; however, for risky alcohol consumption similar gender differences were evident only for the older half of the sample. No clear gender differences were seen in correlates associated with ARPG.

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Gender-Related Differences in the Characteristics of Problem Gamblers Using a Gambling Helpline

Abstract: Individuals with gambling disorders have gender-related differences in underlying motivations to gamble and in problems generated by excessive gambling. Different strategies may be necessary to maximize treatment efficacy for men and for women with gambling problems.

Cited by 377 publications

References 20 publications

An Empirical Study of Gender Differences in Online Gambling

An Empirical Study of Gender Differences in Online Gambling

Does gender moderate the subjective measurement and structural paths in behavioural and cognitive aspects of gambling disorder in treatment-seeking adults?

At-Risk and Problem Gambling among Finnish Youth: The Examination of Risky Alcohol Consumption, Tobacco Smoking, Mental Health and Loneliness as Gender-Specific Correlates

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