Exploring differences in substance use among emerging adults at-risk for problem gambling, and/or problem video gaming

ABSTRACT

Both problem gambling (PG) and problem video gaming (PVG) contribute to physical, psychological, and interpersonal issues, and are associated with elevated substance use. This is particularly troublesome among emerging adults (18–27 years) who report high levels of substance use and represent a significant proportion of the gamblers and video game players. The present study assessed PG and PVG symptoms among 1,621 emerging adults (54.5% female; M = 20.55, SD = 2.70) in conjunction with their frequency of using cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs (e.g. cocaine, opioids). Results revealed that 6.1% and 22.7% of emerging adults were at-risk for PG or PVG, respectively. Those at at-risk for either PG or PVG had used substances more frequently than those who were either non-problematic or at low-risk. A small subset of participants (2.2%) were at-risk for both PG and PVG and were the most likely to report using cigarettes, marijuana, and other drugs frequently, even after accounting for the effects of age, gender, race, and gambling and video gaming frequency. As such, exhibiting a risk for both PG and PVG places individuals at greater risk for substance use. The implications of these findings to policy and future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Gambling
• mental health
• substance use
• video gaming

Competing interests

The authors do not have any conflicts of interests to report.

Constraints on publishing

No constraints are in place preventing the publication of this study.

Supplementary materials

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Notes

1. Univariate comparisons across sampling method revealed minimal differences with small effect sizes. Specifically, relative to the university sample, the MTurk sample reported greater substance use as well as greater problems with their gambling and video gaming participation. Differences were also observed between university and community samples; however, these differences were not as strong. Nonetheless, sampling method was included in the primary multinomial logistic regression as an additional covariate.

Additional information

Funding

The second author is supported by a doctoral scholarship from the Fonds de Recherche Société et Culture Québec (FRQSC)-Concerted Actions program. This research was funded by the Manitoba Gambling Research Program of Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries; however, the findings and conclusions of this paper are those solely of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries.

Notes on contributors

Devin J. Mills

Devin J. Mills is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences at Texas Tech University. His research explores the development of behavioral addictions, specifically video gaming and gambling disorder, with the intention of identifying factors that facilitate sustained recovery across the lifespan.

Loredana Marchica

Loredana Marchica is a PhD Candidate in School/Applied Child Psychology at McGill University. Her research focuses on the role of emotion regulation as a transdiagnostic construct in behavioral addictions, specifically gambling and video gaming disorders.

Matthew T. Keough

Matthew T. Keough is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Psychology at York University. His research focuses on improving our understanding of the etiology and treatment of addictive behavior, including both substance use and behavioral addictions (e.g. problem gambling).

Jeffrey L. Derevensky

Jeffrey L. Derevensky is a James McGill Professor, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology; Professor, Department of Psychiatry; and director, International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University. His research focuses on child and adolescent high-risk behaviors and remains actively involved in a variety of research, treatment, and prevention initiatives. He has worked internationally and provided expert testimony before legislative bodies in multiple countries and his work has resulted in important social policy and governmental changes.