Configurations of gambling change and harm: qualitative findings from the Swedish longitudinal gambling study (Swelogs)

Figures & data

Table 1. Data collection in Swelogs epidemiological and in-depth tracks.

	2008/2009	2009/2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2016
Epidemiological track	EP I	EP II		EP III		EP IV
	n = 15 000	n = 8165		n = 7064		n = 7000
	Age 16–84	Age 17–85		Age 19–87		Age 21–89
In-depth track			ID I		ID II		ID III
			n = 2400		n = 2000		n = 40
			Age 18–86		Age 20–88		Age 23–75

Table 2. Harm levels and pattern of change.

	N	%
Harm level
No harm	10	25.0
Low harm	14	35.0
Harm	5	12.5
Substantial harm	11	27.5
Pattern of change
A. Stable	13	32.5
B. Decreasing	13	32.5
C. Fluctuating	9	22.5
D. Increasing	5	12.5

Table 3. Overview of configurations of gambling change and harm.

Configuration	A. Low-frequency gambling with no or minor harm	B. High-frequency gambling with occasional harm	C. Periodic gambling withmoderate harm	D. High-frequency gambling withsubstantial harm
Intensity of gambling	Stable	Decreasing	Fluctuating	Increasing
Gambling motives	Excitement Tradition/Habit Social function Chance of winning Charity	Excitement Challenge Chance of winning Social function	Chance of winning Cope with/escape from everyday problems	Excitement Challenge Chance of winning Cope with/escape from everyday problems
Factors increasing gambling Individual level	Erroneous perceptions of gambling High money access	Interest in gambling High money access Alcohol Becoming of legal age to gamble Time to gamble Erroneous perceptions of gambling	Low/high money access Personality traits Ill health Time to gamble Erroneous perceptions of gambling	Low/high money access Personality traits Ill health Alcohol Erroneous perceptions of gambling
Contextual level	Gambling among friends and family Gambling advertising Easy access to gambling	Gambling among friends and family Easy access to gambling Gambling advertising	Gambling among friends and family Important life events Gambling advertising Easy access to gambling Itinerant work or inconvenient working hours Lack of supportive network and meaningful employment	Big wins Gambling advertising Important life events Lack of supportive network and meaningful employment
Factors decreasing gambling Individual level	Low money access Risk awareness Lost interest in gambling Correct perceptions of gambling	Less time for gambling Low money access Risk awareness Own rules and strategies Maturation Negative consequences Turning points Lost interest in gambling Correct perceptions of gambling	Low/high money access Own rules and strategies Responsible gambling tools Improved health Negative consequences Turning points Correct perceptions of gambling Lessons learned from previous destructive gambling habits	Low/high money access Correct perceptions of gambling
Contextual level	No gambling among friends and family Low access to gambling	No gambling among friends and family Meeting new partner/friends Work/study/family responsibilities Important life events Criticism, demands and support from significant others Low access to gambling Leisure activities	Meaningful employment Important life events Criticism, demands and support from significant others Support/treatment from professionals or self-help groups Leisure activities	Meaningful employment Criticism, demands and support from significant others Support/treatment from professionals or self-help groups