An important way to investigate changes in gambling behaviour over time is through longitudinal cohort studies. Longitudinal studies are studies that follow and observe the same cohort of people over a period of time. This allows researchers to link the risk factors of gambling to the actual consequences for those same people over time.
As part of the National Strategy, the Gambling Commission has commissioned a scoping study to determine the most effective methodological approach for a longitudinal gambling study in Great Britain. More information is available on the National Strategy website. Previously, GambleAware has also supported research on the lived experience of the development of problem gambling, available on their website.
Greo's Conceptual Framework of Harmful Gambling (2018) contains a chapter on notable longitudinal studies in problem gambling research. (Chapter Summary | Full Framework)
The survey datasets from the Quinte Longitudinal Study (QLS; Ontario, Canada) and the Leisure, Lifestyle, & Lifecycle Project (LLLP; Alberta, Canada) are available through the Greo Dataverse:
Greo has also created knowledge translation and exchange products of longitudinal study results, and supported secondary analysis of longtidunal datasets:
See all longitudinal study resources in Greo's Evidence Centre.