Young boys who suffered traumas, including physical abuse or witnessing violence at home, are more likely to have gambling addictions and disorders in adulthood, according to a research.
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According to a Study:
- The findings showed that children with probable pathological gambling problems a common disorder are more likely to suffer injuries.
- In addition, marital difficulties, homelessness, money problems and criminality as adults.
- Amanda Roberts, forensic psychologist at the University of Lincoln, UK.
- Said,this suggests that disordered gambling does not occur on its own, but that it is perhaps symptomatic of other social, behavioural and psychological problems of some individuals
- “We have found that among men, disordered gambling remains uniquely associated with trauma and life stressors in childhood and adulthood after adjusting for alcohol and drug dependence,”.
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Addictive Behaviours:
- For the study, published in the journal Addictive Behaviours.
- The team examined responses in a survey of more than 3,000 men on a variety of life factors.
- Also found that just over a quarter who had probable pathological gambling problems had witnessed violence in the home as a child.
- While 10 per cent reported being physically abused in childhood, seven per cent said they had suffered a life-threatening injury.
- Nearly 23 per cent of men were identified as problem gamblers displaying a less harmful relationship with gambling.
- Than their pathological peers also reported witnessing violence at home, while the rate for non-problem gamblers was just 8 per cent.
- Similarly, men who reported personally suffering physical abuse in childhood.
- With 10% of pathological gamblers reporting being the victim of violence, versus 9% for problem gamblers and four per cent for non-problem gamblers.
- “General experiences of stressful life events” such as job loss or homelessness in adulthood are not associated with “the same extreme psychological responses”.
- Suggesting that associations with traumatic events at an early age might increase vulnerability to developing gambling problems, Roberts noted.
- The study highlight a need for gambling treatment services.
- To include routine screening for traumatic life events or substance abuse, so that treatments can be better tailored.