This study examined the relationship between age at first gambling experience and severity of gambling and related problems among older adult problem gamblers. Fifty-two problem gamblers over the age of 65 years completed self-report instruments that assessed gambling problems as well as the Short Form 36 health survey. The median age at first gambling experience was 21 years. Compared with gamblers who had a late onset of gambling, those with an early onset wagered more frequently and had more severe medical and psychiatric problems. These data suggest that gambling that begins in adolescence may be associated with an elevated severity of problems throughout the life span among older adult problem gamblers.
Introduction
Pathological gambling is characterized by severe gambling problems, including preoccupation and loss of control. Its subdiagnostic threshold condition—problem gambling—is associated with moderate difficulties. A meta-analysis revealed that about 5.4 percent of adults are problem or pathological gamblers (1).
Participation in gambling has increased with the legalization of gambling opportunities (1), especially among older adults (2). Problem gambling among older adults may be a cause for concern given the putative association between gambling, medical problems, and psychiatric problems (3). However, only a few studies have been conducted of correlates of gambling problems among older adults. These studies have been limited to treatment-seeking gamblers (4), and their results suggest a later age at onset of gambling initiation among older compared with younger adult gamblers.
Among today’s youths, gambling begins at a young age, and early-onset gambling may be associated with later development of problem or pathological gambling (5). Alcohol abuse commonly occurs with such gambling (1,2,3). Age at onset of alcohol use is related to increased problems in adulthood (6); a similar effect may emerge with respect to gambling.
The study reported here examined the relationship between age at first gambling experience and psychosocial problems among older adult problem gamblers. Non-treatment-seeking and problem gamblers were included in the study to maximize the generalizability of the findings.
All costaneranj participants completed the SOGS. SOGS scores greater than 5 indicate pathological gambling, and scoresof 3 or 4suggest problem gambling. The mean score in this sample was 4.3±.6, with a Cronbach’s alpha of .78. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) (8) was also administered. This instrument assesses the severity of medical, employment, psychiatric, family and social, legal, alcohol, and drug problems in the previous month. Composite scores are derived; scores on individual items range from 0 to 1, with higher scores indicating more severe problems. In this study, a gambling section was also included (9). Participants also completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey, which provides two summary scores (physical health and mental health) and eight subscale scores. It has been validated for use among elderly persons (10). Possible scores on the SF-36 range from 0 to 160, with lower scores indicating greater severity of problems.
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