Problem Gambling is the act of betting on something of value, usually money, and hoping that the outcome will be favorable. There are three main aspects to gambling: the prize, the risk, and the consideration of the value of the stake. Those who are affected by problem gambling tend to be women, uneducated, and from low-income families. Learn more about the causes of problem gambling. And don’t forget to get help if you or someone you love is suffering from the disorder.
Problem gamblers are more likely to be women
In a study by Delfabbro et al. in 2007, women were more likely than men to exhibit signs of distress after losing. While male problem gamblers were more likely to swear or cry, women displayed visible sadness and anger after losing. They also showed more signs of emotional gambling, including hitting the machines and playing aggressively. They also were more likely to be drinking while gambling. But what exactly is problem gambling and what can be done to prevent it?
In a survey of 8807 respondents, problem gamblers and non-problem gamblers were grouped into two groups. Of the 8917 males, 463 were considered at-risk, and 338 were considered problem gamblers. Researchers used a checklist to distinguish at-risk and problem gamblers. They looked for behaviors that differentiated male and female problem gamblers. Overall, they found that male problem gamblers and female problem gamblers reported similar numbers of risky gambling behaviors.
Problem gamblers are more likely to live in poverty
There are several reasons why problem gamblers are more likely to live in deprived environments. One reason is that they believe gambling is a way to improve their self-esteem, particularly since they do not have access to more traditional avenues for economic mobility. Another possible explanation is that they use gambling as a way to deal with the stress associated with living in an unequal environment. These reasons may be related to the disadvantage hypothesis, which suggests that a person living in a low-income environment is likely to develop substance abuse problems.
A recent study conducted by the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions found that problem gamblers were more likely to live in low-income communities. The researchers interviewed nearly 5,000 people in different neighborhoods around the U.S., and found that problem gamblers were twice as likely to live in a neighborhood with high poverty rates than those in a low-income neighborhood. The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions in June 2013.
Problem gamblers are more likely to be uneducated
According to a recent survey, uneducated problem gamblers are more likely to engage in pathological gambling than educated problem gamblers. Despite the prevalence of gambling problems, many individuals with gambling problems do not perceive themselves as dangerous. In fact, Hing and her colleagues found that problem gamblers are more likely to be uneducated than educated people. However, this association between problem gambling and uneducated status is not clear.
Studies have shown that problem gamblers have lower self-esteem than other problem gamblers. The stigma associated with gambling was even greater among participants who were newly diagnosed with the disorder. These factors may have contributed to their lack of willingness to disclose their problem gambling. In addition, fear of stigma and the expectation of negative judgement from others were strong deterrents for problem gambling helpseekers.