The impact of mental health and social motivations for gambling and gaming during COVID-19

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Author(s): Savolainen, Iina ; Vuorinen, Ilkka ; Sirola, Anu ; Oksanen, Atte

Journal: Comprehensive Psychiatry

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: October 13, 2022

Many people experienced higher levels of anxiety because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people coped with anxiety by turning to gambling and gaming. The authors of this study wanted to know how COVID-19 related anxiety impacted gaming and gambling problems. They also sought to examine the role of social motivations for gaming and gambling. A total of 1530 Finnish adults answered several online questionnaires about their mental health, COVID-19 related anxiety, and gaming and gambling problems. The authors found that COVID-19 related anxiety increased mental health issues. People who experienced more mental health issues during the pandemic were more likely to experience gambling and gaming problems if they were socially motivated to gamble and play games.

Citation: Savolainen, I., Vuorinen, I., Sirola, A., & Oksanen, A. (2022). Gambling and gaming during COVID-19: The role of mental health and social motives in gambling and gaming problems. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 117, Article 152331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152331

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152331

Keywords: anxiety ; COVID-19 ; gambling and gaming ; gambling motivations ; gambling problems ; mental health ; online gambling ; online gaming ; problematic gaming ; social factors

Topics: Anxiety and Depression ; Comorbidities ; Online Gambling

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Psychological Factors ; Psychological - Coping Styles ; Gambling Environment ; Types - Motivational Characteristics ; Environment - Public Policy

Study Design: Descriptive: Survey

Geographic Coverage: Finland

Study Population: 1530 Finnish adults

Sampling Procedure: Voluntary response sampling: Participants were recruited from a volunteer participant panel administered by the data provider company Norstat.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by The Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies.