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Problem gambling and family violence : Factors associated with family violence victimization and perpetration in treatment-seeking gamblers
Dowling, Nicki A. Oldenhof, Erin Cockman, Sue Suomi, Aino Merkouris, Stephanie S. Jackson, Alun C.
Dowling, Nicki A.
Oldenhof, Erin
Cockman, Sue
Suomi, Aino
Merkouris, Stephanie S.
Jackson, Alun C.
Abstract
Although problem gambling and family violence are related, there is little available research exploring the factors associated with this relationship. The primary aim was to predict family violence (victimization and perpetration) in a sample of treatment-seeking gamblers by gambling indices (gambling symptom severity, gambling time spent, gambling frequency, gambling expenditure), psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, gambling coping motives, alcohol and drug use, gambling-related legal consequences, work and social adjustment, impulsivity, and gender. A secondary aim was to explore the degree to which these factors moderate the relationship between gambling symptom severity and family violence. Participants (n = 141) were consecutively recruited gamblers presenting to a gambling counseling service. The prevalence of family violence was 25.5%, with 18.4% reporting victimization and 19.1% reporting perpetration. Intimate partners and parents were most likely to be both perpetrators and victims of family violence. Victimization was significantly predicted by psychological distress, symptoms of PTSD, and gambling-related legal consequences, while perpetration was significantly predicted by gambling symptom severity, gambling-related legal consequences, and impulsivity. The association between gambling symptom severity and victimization was significant only for gamblers with low levels of gambling coping motives and moderate or high levels of alcohol use. These findings provide further support for routine screening in problem gambling and family violence services, particularly those who report gambling-related legal consequences; highlight the need for prevention and intervention programs to lower the co-occurrence of these behaviors; and suggest that reducing psychological distress, symptoms of PTSD, alcohol use, and impulsivity may be important in these efforts.
Keywords
problem gambling, family violence, victimization, perpetration, psychological distress, alcohol, impulsivity
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence: concerned with the study and treatment of victims and perpetrators of physical and sexual violence
Book
Volume
36
Issue
15-16
Page Range
7645-7669
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute of Child Protection Studies
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled