An evaluation of the pathways model using the Quinte Longitudinal dataset

ABSTRACT

The present study tested tenets of the Pathways Model of problem gambling by completing a cross-sectional latent class analysis using an existing dataset. The sample in this study consisted of 125 first-time adult problem gamblers from Ontario, Canada who participated in the Quinte Longitudinal study of Gambling and Problem Gambling. A three-class solution was found to be the best fitting model. There was a class resembling Behaviourally Conditioned gambler (n = 40), demonstrating minimal rates of pre-existing psychopathology and social dysfunction; a class that shared consistencies with the Emotionally Vulnerable gambler (n = 56), showing intermediate rates of anxiety, depression, problematic substance use and social dysfunction prior to onset of problem gambling; and a class resembling the Anti-social Impulsivist gambler (n = 29) characterized by the highest impulsivity, social dysfunction, antisociality and pre-existing psychiatric illness. Overall the findings provide evidence for the etiological assumptions of the Pathways Model by demonstrating that problem gamblers can be sub-grouped on traits pre-existing the development of aberrant gambling. These findings have implications for prevention and clinical practice, as specific groups of problem gamblers may require tailored intervention and prevention efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• Problem gambling
• etiology
• gambling subtypes
• pathways
• gambling

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable as this is a secondary analysis of an existing dataset.

Conflict of interest

Funding sources

No funding was received for this study and Mr. Mader has not received any funding within the last three years. In the last three years Dr. Christensen has received funding from the A lberta Gambling Research Institute, the CRISM Prairie Node, and the Cancer Council of Victoria. In the past 3 years Dr. Williams has received research funding from the Alberta Gambling Research Institute, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Unibet Ltd., Canadian Consortium for Gambling Research. The Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre funded the original Quinte Study. There are no competing interests in regard to the present manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joel Mader

Joel Mader was a graduate student at the University of Lethbridge at the time when the secondary analyses were completed. He is now a research associate at the University of Calgary in the Faculty of Nursing.

Darren R. Christensen

Darren R. Christensen received his PhD in psychology from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. He has previously worked at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and at the University of Melbourne examining the efficacy of contingency management as a treatment for substance dependence and problem gambling. He is currently the chair in gambling sponsored by the Alberta Gambling Research Institute in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. His research includes developing behavioural and pharmacological treatments for problem gambling, neuroimaging of problem gamblers, and evaluations of harm minimisation measures.

Robert J. Williams

Dr. Robert J. Williams is a professor in the faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge and a research coordinator with the Alberta Gambling Research Institute.