Kirsty E Scholes-Balog1, Sheryl A Hemphill2, John W Toumbourou3, Nicki A Dowling4. 1. Learning Sciences Institute Australia, Australian Catholic University, 115 Victoria Pde, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia; School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, 115 Victoria Pde, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: kirsty.balog@acu.edu.au. 2. Learning Sciences Institute Australia, Australian Catholic University, 115 Victoria Pde, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia; School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, 115 Victoria Pde, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia; School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 2 Gatehouse St, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: sheryl.hemphill@acu.edu.au. 3. Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 2 Gatehouse St, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Prevention Sciences, School of Psychology and Research Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: john.toumbourou@deakin.edu.au. 4. School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria, Australia; School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: nicki.dowling@deakin.edu.au.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Comorbidity between problem gambling and internalising disorders (anxiety and depression) has long been recognised. However, it is not clear how these relationships develop, and what factors can foster resilience to both conditions. The current study draws on longitudinal cohort data to investigate: 1) the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between problem gambling and internalising symptoms; 2) whether there are common and/or specific social environmental factors protective against both internalising symptoms and problem gambling in young adulthood; and 3) interactive protective factors (i.e., those that moderate the relationship between problem gambling and internalising symptoms). METHODS: A sample of 2248 young adults (55% female) completed a survey in 2010 (T1) and 2012 (T2) which assessed problem gambling (measured via two items based on established measures), internalising symptoms, and social environmental protective factors. RESULTS: A positive cross-sectional relationship between problem gambling and internalising symptoms was found; however, there was no statistically significant longitudinal relationship between the two conditions. Protective factors for internalising symptoms were observed within the domains of the community, family and peer group; however, there were no statistically significant protective factors identified for problem gambling. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that the social environmental protective factors for adult internalising symptoms assessed in the present study are poor longitudinal predictors of young adult problem gambling. Given the lack of common protective factors, it may be necessary to focus on separate factors to protect against each condition, if we are to address the comorbidity between problem gambling and internalising symptoms.
INTRODUCTION: Comorbidity between problem gambling and internalising disorders (anxiety and depression) has long been recognised. However, it is not clear how these relationships develop, and what factors can foster resilience to both conditions. The current study draws on longitudinal cohort data to investigate: 1) the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between problem gambling and internalising symptoms; 2) whether there are common and/or specific social environmental factors protective against both internalising symptoms and problem gambling in young adulthood; and 3) interactive protective factors (i.e., those that moderate the relationship between problem gambling and internalising symptoms). METHODS: A sample of 2248 young adults (55% female) completed a survey in 2010 (T1) and 2012 (T2) which assessed problem gambling (measured via two items based on established measures), internalising symptoms, and social environmental protective factors. RESULTS: A positive cross-sectional relationship between problem gambling and internalising symptoms was found; however, there was no statistically significant longitudinal relationship between the two conditions. Protective factors for internalising symptoms were observed within the domains of the community, family and peer group; however, there were no statistically significant protective factors identified for problem gambling. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that the social environmental protective factors for adult internalising symptoms assessed in the present study are poor longitudinal predictors of young adult problem gambling. Given the lack of common protective factors, it may be necessary to focus on separate factors to protect against each condition, if we are to address the comorbidity between problem gambling and internalising symptoms.
Authors: M Shayne Gallaway; David S Fink; Laura Sampson; Gregory H Cohen; Marijo Tamburrino; Israel Liberzon; Joseph Calabrese; Sandro Galea Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2019-03-21 Impact factor: 3.913
Authors: Nicki A Dowling; Carla A Butera; Stephanie S Merkouris; George J Youssef; Simone N Rodda; Alun C Jackson Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2019-11-06 Impact factor: 4.241
Authors: Álvaro Botella-Guijarro; Daniel Lloret-Irles; José Vicente Segura-Heras; Víctor Cabrera-Perona; Juan Antonio Moriano Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-12-11 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Aino Suomi; Nicki A Dowling; Shane Thomas; Max Abbott; Maria Bellringer; Malcolm Battersby; Jane Koziol-McLain; Tiffany Lavis; Alun C Jackson Journal: J Gambl Stud Date: 2019-06