Digital Scholarship@UNLV

Submission Title

A longitudinal study of gambling motives, problem gambling and need frustration

Session Title

Session 3-3-A: Problem Gambling Motives and Pathways

Presenters

Heli Hagfors MSSc, University of TampereFollow
Ilkka Vuorinen MSSc, University of TampereFollow
Iina Savolainen PhD, University of TampereFollow
Atte Oksanen Prof., University of TampereFollow

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, M_age = 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

Author Bios

Heli Hagfors is a doctoral researcher at Tampere University. She is currently working on her dissertation regarding gambling motives, gambling behavior and addiction dynamics.

Ilkka Vuorinen is a doctoral researcher at Tampere University. The topic of his dissertation focuses on the role of psychosocial well-being in gambling and gaming problems.

Iina Savolainen is a postdoctoral researcher at Tampere University. Her research focuses on addictive behaviors, especially in the context of technology and Internet use, like those involving digital gaming and gambling. Savolainen’s work also considers mental well-being factors and social influences and causes of addictive behaviors.

Atte Oksanen is professor of social psychology and the leader of Emerging Technologies Lab at the Tampere University, Finland. Oksanen’s research focuses on emerging technologies, new modes of social interaction and deviant behavior online. Oksanen’s work on substance use and behavioral addictions has focused on the online context over last years. He has projects using both cross-national and longitudinal data on role of online communities in gambling and changes of gambling due to digitalization.

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.