Gambling problems are linked to lower wellbeing in the family and friends of those who gamble

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Author(s): Tulloch, Catherine ; Hing, Nerilee ; Browne, Matthew ; Rockloff, Matthew J. ; Hilbrecht, Margo

Journal: Journal of Behavioral Addictions

Year Published: 2021

Date Added: January 14, 2022

Gambling can harm those who gamble, as well as their friends and family. “Concerned significant others” (CSOs) are people in a close relationship with someone who gambles. This study looked at the wellbeing of CSOs in Australia and Canada. The researchers used data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA). They also used data from the Quinte Longitudinal Survey (QLS) from Ontario, Canada. Overall, CSOs had lower wellbeing than participants who were not CSOs. But, the type of relationship between the CSO and the person who gambled did not seem to impact the wellbeing of the CSO.

Citation: Tulloch, C., Hing, N., Browne, M., Rockloff, M., & Hilbrecht, M. (2021). The effect of gambling problems on the subjective wellbeing of gamblers’ family and friends: Evidence from large-scale population research in Australia and Canada. Journal of Behavioral Addictions. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2021.00077

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2021.00077

Keywords: Concerned Significant Other (CSO) ; family relationships ; gambling harm ; Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey ; personal relationships ; population survey ; problem gambling ; Quinte Longitudinal Study (QLS) ; subjective well-being

Topics: Family and Friends ; Gambling and the Brain

Conceptual Framework Factors: Environment - Social and Economic Impacts ; Psychological Factors ; Social - Family and Peer Gambling Involvement ; Gambling Environment ; Psychological - Subjective Well-Being

Response Rate: Response rate unknown. NAustralian sample = 19,064 NCanadian sample = 3904 Total N = 22,968

Study Design: Secondary Data Analysis

Geographic Coverage: Australia ; Canada, Ontario

Study Population: A representative sample of households in Australia who participated in HILDA. Participant data for this study came from participants in wave 18 who were 15 years and older. N = 19,064 People 15 years and older living in the Quinte regions of Ontario, Canada who participated in 3rd wave of the Quinte Longitudinal Study. This study recruited participants from the “general population” and those “at risk” of problem gambling. N = 3904

Sampling Procedure: The study used data already collected from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA) and from the Quinte Longitudinal Study (QLS).

Study Funding:

This research received no external funding.