Predictors of help-seeking for gambling disorder from the transtheoretical model perspective

Abstract

Few gamblers seek treatment despite the severe negative impacts prolonged gambling can have. Research surrounding the predictors of help-seeking for problem gambling is often retrospective in design and inconsistent in findings. This study prospectively investigated whether transtheoretical model (TTM) constructs (readiness to change, ratings of temptations and self-efficacy, decisional balance and processes of change) have utility in predicting help-seeking among disordered gamblers. Community-recruited disordered gamblers (N = 136; 47.06% female; mean age = 44.5 years, SD = 12.8; 80.1% Caucasian) completed three assessments of TTM constructs, help-seeking behaviour, gambling problem severity, and other potential predictors of help-seeking. Informal help-seeking was common (6-month = 71.1%; 12-month = 79.6%); however, formal help-seeking was relatively infrequent (6-month = 22.7%; 12-month = 35.1%). Logistic regression demonstrated that gambling problem severity and the social liberation process of change (i.e. endorsing public awareness of gambling problems or non-gambling role models) consistently predicted formal help-seeking. Helping relationships and counter-conditioning (i.e. engaging in other activities as a replacement for gambling) processes of change uniquely predicted informal help-seeking at 12 months. Individuals most likely to seek formal help have greater problem severity and greater readiness to address problems. Seeking informal help is less predictable but more common.

Keywords::

• help-seeking
• problem gambling
• readiness to change
• transtheoretical model
• processes of change

Conflicts of interest

Funding sources: This research was funded by the Alberta Gambling Research Institute. AGRI approved the research questions but had no involvement with the research design, methodology, conduct, analysis or write up.

Competing interests: Kristy R. Kowatch was employed as a research assistant in the laboratory that received funding from AGRI. However, there were no other competing interests in the completion of this manuscript.

Constraints on publishing

No constraints on publishing were reported by the authors.

Notes

We would like to thank Andrew Kim for his contribution in preparing this manuscript and to Chrystal Mansley for help with the initial conceptualization of the project and data collection.

^1. Results substituting the URICA and DSM scales were very similar

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kristy R. Kowatch

Kristy Kowatch completed her BA (Honours) at the University of Calgary and has been accepted into the MA programme in clinical psychology at Lakehead University. Her research interests include addiction in adolescent and First Nations’ populations, as well as environmental factors affecting addiction. Kowatch works as the research coordinator on the Leisure, Lifestyle, and Lifestyle Project, a prospective multiple cohort investigation of gambling and leisure activities across the lifespan in the province of Alberta.

David C. Hodgins

David C. Hodgins, Ph.D., is a professor in the Program in Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychology, University of Calgary. He is also the head of the Department of Psychology and a coordinator with the Alberta Gaming Research Institute. He is registered as a clinical psychologist in Alberta. His research interests focus on various aspects of addictive behaviours including relapse and recovery from substance abuse and gambling disorders.