A longitudinal study of gambling motives, problem gambling and need frustration
Session Title
Session 3-3-A: Problem Gambling Motives and Pathways
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation
Location
Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV
Start Date
25-5-2023 1:30 PM
End Date
25-5-2023 3:00 PM
Disciplines
Other Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Psychology
Abstract
Gambling motives are an important element in understanding the development of problem gambling, yet majority of the recent studies have been cross-sectional. This study analyzed the links between gambling motives and problem gambling using a longitudinal study design. Moderating effect of the frustration of basic psychological needs was also assessed. The study sample with 1,022 participants (48.72% female, Mage = 49.50 years) was surveyed at three timepoints (T1-T3) in 6-month intervals. Validated measures for gambling problems (The Problem Gambling Severity Index, PGSI), need frustration (The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, BPNSFS), and psychological distress (5-Item Mental Health Inventory, MHI-5) were used. The data were analyzed using a multilevel mixed-effects regression model where the PGSI score was the outcome variable. Gambling motives and need frustration were the predictors while psychological distress, offshore/onshore online gambling, and socio-demographics were control variables. All the motives predicted problem gambling individually over time. In contrast, motives to escape, to win money, and to compete along with need frustration predicted problem gambling over time in the full model. In addition, money motive and need frustration had an interaction effect so that higher need frustration combined with money motive predicted more severe gambling problems.
The results of this study can be used to improve and develop the treatment of problem gambling, and in the development of gambling policy.
Keywords
gambling motivation, problem gambling, longitudinal design, basic psychological needs, need frustration, offshore gambling
Funding Sources
The study was funded by the Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies (Gambling in the Digital Age Project, 2021–2023, PI: A. Oksanen). Heli Hagfors works with a personal grant from the Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies. Ilkka Vuorinen works with a personal grant from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation (2021–2022). Funding body did not involve in any aspects of the research.
Competing Interests
The authors state no competing interests.
A longitudinal study of gambling motives, problem gambling and need frustration
Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV
Gambling motives are an important element in understanding the development of problem gambling, yet majority of the recent studies have been cross-sectional. This study analyzed the links between gambling motives and problem gambling using a longitudinal study design. Moderating effect of the frustration of basic psychological needs was also assessed. The study sample with 1,022 participants (48.72% female, Mage = 49.50 years) was surveyed at three timepoints (T1-T3) in 6-month intervals. Validated measures for gambling problems (The Problem Gambling Severity Index, PGSI), need frustration (The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, BPNSFS), and psychological distress (5-Item Mental Health Inventory, MHI-5) were used. The data were analyzed using a multilevel mixed-effects regression model where the PGSI score was the outcome variable. Gambling motives and need frustration were the predictors while psychological distress, offshore/onshore online gambling, and socio-demographics were control variables. All the motives predicted problem gambling individually over time. In contrast, motives to escape, to win money, and to compete along with need frustration predicted problem gambling over time in the full model. In addition, money motive and need frustration had an interaction effect so that higher need frustration combined with money motive predicted more severe gambling problems.
The results of this study can be used to improve and develop the treatment of problem gambling, and in the development of gambling policy.