Similar motives? The relationship between reasons for drinking and gambling in a population sample

ABSTRACT

This study examined whether motives for drinking and gambling have a similar conceptual structure in a representative sample of adults. Since instruments that measure motives for gambling were developed based on drinking motives, the present study further examines whether similar underlying intentions exist more broadly across addictive behaviors or if underlying motivational processes are distinct. Three specific motivational concepts (coping, enhancement and social) have been associated with both drinking and gambling, but few studies have examined overlap in motives. This study applied confirmatory factor analysis with two instruments (Drinking Motives Questionnaire and the Gambling Motives Questionnaire – Financial) to assess whether a theoretically-informed model applied to a general population sample of adults 18 years and older (N = 740). Although combined drinking and gambling coping motives produced adequate fit, the best model supported separate underlying motives for drinking and gambling in this sample. The findings indicate limited overlap in motives for these two addictive behaviors; however, this could be related to the composition of the sample. Further research should examine a clinical sample of drinkers/gamblers. Results have implications for interventions and policy, in particular the importance of niche targeting of separate coping motives for problematic alcohol use and gambling.

KEYWORDS:

• Drinking motives
• gambling motives
• gambling
• alcohol
• confirmatory factor analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Prairie Research Associates, Inc. for data collection and cleaning of the survey conducted in this study.

Competing Interests

Authors Thomas and Dechant are employed by the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA), the agency responsible for regulating the liquor, gambling and cannabis industries in Manitoba, Canada. The LGCA funded data collection for the current study and receives funds from the liquor, gambling and cannabis industries in the form of service-based licence fees and an annual transfer payment from the provincial liquor, gambling and cannabis operator and wholesaler. The LGCA’s regulated industries had no involvement in this research.

Author McGrath discloses a speaker’s honorarium from Spectrum Therapeutics and support from the Alberta Gambling Research Institute.

Constraints on publishing

All authors report no constraints on publishing.

Data Availability

The dataset used for this study are openly available via Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO) at https://doi.org/10.5683/SP/2ZARY2.

Notes

1. A total of 7,332 numbers selected were eligible for inclusion in the sample, with 5,040 that declined to participate for a refusal rate of 69 percent (5,040/7,332). Of the remaining 2,292 cooperative contacts, 1,092 were disqualified, for a final sample of 1,200 and a total completion rate of 16 percent (1,200/7,332).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba.

Notes on contributors

Jasmine Thomas

Jasmine Thomas completed a PhD in Sociology at the University of Alberta and is a Research Analyst with the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA). Their specializations are statistics, mixed-methodological research design, labor market inclusion and anti-racism. Their research focuses on evidence for policy development, harm reduction and public education related to the alcohol, gambling and cannabis industries.

Daniel S. McGrath

Daniel S. McGrath is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary and the Alberta Gambling Research Institute (AGRI) Chair in gambling research. His research is primarily focused on the behavioral pharmacology of addiction and disordered gambling. The main purpose of this line of work is to help researchers and clinicians better understand the interaction between use of addictive substances (e.g., tobacco, alcohol) and gambling behavior. Another major research area is the role of cognitive biases in disordered gambling. He has also published extensively on motives in gambling and personality traits associated with disordered gambling.

Kristianne Dechant

Kristianne Dechant is the Chief Executive Officer of the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA), the province’s regulator for these three industries. She has worked in regulation since 2005, when she began conducting academic gambling research for the former Manitoba Gaming Control Commission. Today, Kristianne brings her unique background in social sciences research and business to leading diverse initiatives that strengthen the province’s regulatory policy base and the services provided by the LGCA.