How treatment-seeking gamblers were influenced by their family’s gambling during their childhood

View Abstract View Snapshot Back to Search Results

snapshot summaries

Author(s): Dowling, Nicki A. ; Francis, Kate L. ; Dixon, R ; Merkouris, Stephanie ; Thomas, Shane A. ; Frydenberg, Erica ; Jackson, Alun C.

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2020

Date Added: August 31, 2020

The children of parents with problem gambling are more likely to develop problem gambling themselves. Thus, problem gambling appears to be transmitted within families. This study surveyed adults seeking treatment for problem gambling and asked about their family environment during childhood. About 25% of participants grew up with at least one family member (a parent or sibling) with a gambling problem. Often, parental gambling problems started before the participants were 12 years old. Participants who grew up in a family with problem gambling reported more family financial issues, parental separation or divorce, and less authoritative parenting from their father. About one-third of participants felt their family’s gambling did not impact their own gambling. Two-thirds felt it did influence them, either through genetics or social learning.

Citation: Dowling, N. A., Francis, K. L., Dixon, R., Merkouris, S. S., Thomas, S. A., Frydenberg, E., & Jackson, A. C. (2020). “It runs in your blood”: Reflections from treatment seeking gamblers on their family history of gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09959-w

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09959-w

Keywords: family ; gambling ; intergenerational transmission ; parents

Topics: Family and Friends

Conceptual Framework Factors: Social - Family and Peer Gambling Involvement ; Biological Factors ; Social Factors ; Biological - Genetic Inheritance

Study Design: Descriptive: Survey

Geographic Coverage: Australia, South Australia ; Australia, Tasmania ; Australia, Victoria

Study Population: Adults living in Australia who were voluntarily seeking treatment for problem gambling at one of eight government-funded gambling treatment agencies. (N=97)

Sampling Procedure: The researchers met with service managers from gambling-specific treatment services in Australia and asked them if their centre would participate in the study. 13 centres agreed to pass the study surveys on to treatment-seeking individuals with problem gambling. The potential participants were given the survey and a reply-paid envelope so they could send the survey directly to the researchers. The researchers received surveys back from participants from 8 of the 13 treatment agencies.

Study Funding:

The data presented in this manuscript were collected as part of the multi-study Children at Risk Project, funded by Gambling Research Australia (Melbourne, Victoria), Tender Number 103/06