Examining gambling activity subtypes over time in a large sample of young adults

Abstract

Background: Gambling is common in young adulthood. Most young adults phase out of excessive gambling, but some establish regular habits and develop problems. Research has begun to examine the risk associated with different gambling activity patterns. However, there is a paucity of longitudinal work. Using a prospective design, we identified distinct subgroups of young adults based on patterns of gambling activity involvement and tested the stability of these subgroups over 4 years.

Method: Data came from the Manitoba Longitudinal Study of Young Adults. Participants (N = 679) completed four waves of self-report measures (spaced 1-year apart). Latent class analysis and latent transition analysis were conducted to identify the number of gambling activity classes and the stability of these over time. Finally, multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to examine correlates of class membership.

Results: A three-class model was supported and classes differed based on the degree of gambling involvement (i.e., low, moderate, and high). Only the moderate gambling class was also associated with alcohol dependence, and was the most stable over time. Impulsivity, alcohol use, drug use, and problem gambling symptoms were associated with membership in the moderate (but not the high) gambling class. Participants in the high gambling class were highly likely to transition into either the moderate and low gambling classes four years later.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that high gambling involvement reduces over time in young adulthood. However, our findings suggest that there is a large subgroup of stable moderate gamblers who also tend to engage in other addictive behaviours.

Keywords:

• Gambling activities
• young adults
• longitudinal
• risk factors
• addictive behaviours

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Notes

1 The MLSYA project was originally funded by the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. The primary intention was to learn about gambling behaviors specific to young adults in Manitoba –though many additional indicators were included that could be analyzed either in conjunction with gambling or separately (http://digitalcollection.gov.mb.ca/awweb/pdfopener?smd=1&did=17604&md=1). Permission for the use of this de-identified data was given by the data set proprietor Manitoba Liquor and Gaming Authority.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elena Bilevicius

All authors contributed meaningfully to the conceptual model presented in the manuscript. E.B. wrote the introduction, methods, and discussion, edited the document, and created the online submission. J.D.E. and M.D.S. developed the idea and contributed to the introduction and discussion. D.J. contributed to data analysis and interpretation. MTK ran the analyses, developed the idea, wrote the results section, and created the tables and figures. The final manuscript reflects the combined substantial effort of all co-authors and together we declare that we approve of this submission.

Jason D. Edgerton

All authors contributed meaningfully to the conceptual model presented in the manuscript. E.B. wrote the introduction, methods, and discussion, edited the document, and created the online submission. J.D.E. and M.D.S. developed the idea and contributed to the introduction and discussion. D.J. contributed to data analysis and interpretation. MTK ran the analyses, developed the idea, wrote the results section, and created the tables and figures. The final manuscript reflects the combined substantial effort of all co-authors and together we declare that we approve of this submission.

Matthew D. Sanscartier

All authors contributed meaningfully to the conceptual model presented in the manuscript. E.B. wrote the introduction, methods, and discussion, edited the document, and created the online submission. J.D.E. and M.D.S. developed the idea and contributed to the introduction and discussion. D.J. contributed to data analysis and interpretation. MTK ran the analyses, developed the idea, wrote the results section, and created the tables and figures. The final manuscript reflects the combined substantial effort of all co-authors and together we declare that we approve of this submission.

Depeng Jiang

All authors contributed meaningfully to the conceptual model presented in the manuscript. E.B. wrote the introduction, methods, and discussion, edited the document, and created the online submission. J.D.E. and M.D.S. developed the idea and contributed to the introduction and discussion. D.J. contributed to data analysis and interpretation. MTK ran the analyses, developed the idea, wrote the results section, and created the tables and figures. The final manuscript reflects the combined substantial effort of all co-authors and together we declare that we approve of this submission.

Matthew T. Keough

All authors contributed meaningfully to the conceptual model presented in the manuscript. E.B. wrote the introduction, methods, and discussion, edited the document, and created the online submission. J.D.E. and M.D.S. developed the idea and contributed to the introduction and discussion. D.J. contributed to data analysis and interpretation. MTK ran the analyses, developed the idea, wrote the results section, and created the tables and figures. The final manuscript reflects the combined substantial effort of all co-authors and together we declare that we approve of this submission.