Minority ethnic status, symptom severity, and psychosocial impairment among people with gambling disorder

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Author(s): Grant, Jon E. ; Chamberlain, Samuel R.

Journal: Addictive Behaviors

Year Published: 2023

Date Added: November 25, 2022

The researchers examined how minority ethnic status might be linked to gambling symptom severity and other clinical features. A total of 475 adults with gambling disorder were included in this study. These participants had taken part in clinic trials on pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy before. They were assessed for gambling severity, co-occurring mental and physical health problems, quality of life, and psychosocial functioning. Participants who self-identified as Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic (BAME) were more likely to start gambling at an earlier age than those who self-identified as white Caucasian. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of age when gambling became problematic; disability; current gambling disorder severity; previous suicide attempt(s); quality of life; and percent of salary lost in the past year to gambling. There were also no differences between the two groups in terms of the likelihood of having received treatment for gambling disorder or having attended Gamblers Anonymous.

Citation: Grant, J. E., & Chamberlain, S. R. (2023). Gambling disorder in minority ethnic groups. Addictive Behaviors, 136, 107475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107475

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107475

Keywords: comorbidities ; ethnicity ; psychosocial ; quality of life

Topics: Comorbidities ; Cultural Factors ; Gambling and the Brain ; Traditions

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological Factors ; Cultural Factors ; Social Factors ; Cultural - Ethnicity and Traditions

Study Design: Secondary Data Analysis

Geographic Coverage: United States of America

Study Population: Participants were adults with gambling disorder who had taken part in clinical trials on pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy (n = 475). Participants were retrospectively examined to ensure they met the DSM-5 criteria. Participants were excluded if they had substance use disorders, bipolar I disorder, or schizophrenia in the past three months, On average, participants were about 47 years old. Most were women (54.3%). Participants included 41 persons who identified as Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic (BAME), and 434 persons who identified as white Caucasian (non-BAME).

Sampling Procedure: The researchers used data from 475 adults with gambling disorder. The participants had taken part in clinical trials on pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy. The data were collected using a combined database from ten published studies as well as on-going studies. The sample was recruited in Chicago, IL, and Minneapolis, MN, through advertisements on the internet, in public places, and in newspapers.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by internal funds from the University of Chicago as well as by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Fellowship.