An investigation of the link between gambling motives and social context of gambling in young adults

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between gambling motives and gambling in various social contexts using both retrospective and real-time assessment of gambling social context. Ninety-five young adults (79 males, 16 females; aged 19–24 years) who reported gambling at least 4 times in the past month participated. Scores on the Gambling Motives Questionnaire (GMQ; Stewart & Zack, 2008) were used as a measure of gambling motives (Enhancement, Social, Coping). Data on the social context of gambling (alone, with family, with friends, with strangers) were derived retrospectively from the Gambling Timeline Follow-Back (G-TLFB; Weinstock, Whelan, & Meyers, 2004) as well as in real time using experience sampling (ES) methods (Conner Christensen, Feldman Barrett, Bliss-Moreau, Lebo, & Kaschub, 2003). For both the G-TLFB and ES data, we conducted a series of multivariate regression analyses with the block of gambling motives predicting gambling behaviour in each social context. Across the two assessment methods, coping gambling motives positively predicted gambling alone, whereas social gambling motives negatively predicted gambling alone and positively predicted gambling with friends. These findings suggest that individuals who gamble for particular motives are more likely to do so in specific social contexts.

Keywords::

• addiction
• gambling
• social behaviour
• young adults
• motivation

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Natalie Vilhena-Churchill, Immaculate Antony, Breanne Faulkner and Pamela Collins for their work on the project. In addition, we would like to thank Drs Peter Hoaken and Gordon Flett for their contributions to the larger study that formed the basis for this work.

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by a Research Award from the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre. The principal investigator is Dr Abby L. Goldstein and co-investigators include Sherry H. Stewart, Dr Peter Hoaken, and Dr Gordon Flett.

Notes

^1. Because this was a preliminary study and it has the potential to be very applicable to treating problem gamblers, we thought that it was important to examine an at-risk population. We intend to extend this research to the wider population of adults in the future.

^2. This excluded lottery ticket gambling because it does not result in the same schedule of reinforcement as other forms of gambling; Blaszczynski and Nower (2002).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chelsea K. Quinlan

Chelsea K. Quinlan is a graduate student in the PhD in Clinical Psychology program at Dalhousie University. Chelsea's dissertation research examines the effect of mnemonic strategies, such as reading aloud and singing, on memory performance and the underlying mechanisms that contribute to these memory benefits. Chelsea is also broadly interested in the treatment of addictive behaviours in adolescents.

Abby L. Goldstein

Abby L. Goldstein is an Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Dr Goldstein received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from York University in Toronto, Canada. Dr Goldstein's research examines various aspects of addictive behaviours in adolescence and emerging adulthood, including motivational models of alcohol use and gambling, concurrent disorders among adolescents and emerging adults, and the relationship between childhood maltreatment and substance use.

Sherry H. Stewart

Sherry H. Stewart is a Professor of Psychology at Dalhousie University. Dr Stewart received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Dr Stewart's research is focused on psychological factors (e.g. motives, personality, implicit cognitions) contributing to alcohol abuse, pathological gambling, and the comorbidity of mental health and addictive disorders. She has published several clinical trials of novel approaches for the treatment and prevention of addictive disorders and co-occurring mental health problems.