Childhood trauma and coping strategies among people with gambling disorder and their family members

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Author(s): Goghari, Vina M. ; Shakeel, Mohammed K. ; Swan, Jennifer ; Kim, Hyoun S. ; Sharif-Razi, Maryam ; Hodgins, David C.

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2020

Date Added: November 16, 2020

The researchers compared childhood trauma that people with gambling disorder (GD), their immediate family, and people without GD experienced. They also compared the types of coping strategies that people used. The results showed that participants with GD experienced more childhood trauma than participants without GD. Participants with GD and their family members were less likely to use task-oriented coping in stressful situations than participants without GD. This finding suggests that a lack of task-oriented coping skills may run in families. This study shows the benefits of using a family study design to understand the risk factors of GD.

Citation: Goghari, V. M., Shakeel, M. K., Swan, J. L., Kim, H. S., Sharif-Razi, M., & Hodgins, D. C. (2020). A family study of trauma and coping strategies in gambling disorder. Journal of Gambling Studies, 36, 767-782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09963-0

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09963-0

Keywords: addictive behaviour ; biological relatives ; life stress ; risk marker ; vulnerability marker

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological Factors ; Psychological - Coping Styles ; Psychological - Adverse Childhood Experiences

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Alberta

Study Population: Adults with gambling disorder (GD) (n=32), their immediate family members (n=20), and people from the community without gambling disorder or a family history of gambling disorder (n=39).

Sampling Procedure: Convenience sampling – participants with and without gambling disorder were recruited through media announcements, notices at local treatment agencies, and an existing research registry. Relatives were recruited though participants with gambling disorder.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the Gambling Family Study of Clinical and Cognitive Functioning (Alberta Gambling Research Institute Grant 68).