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The intergenerational transmission of problem gambling: the mediating role of offspring gambling expectancies and motives
journal contribution
posted on 2018-02-01, 00:00 authored by Nicki DowlingNicki Dowling, Erin OldenhofErin Oldenhof, Kerrie Shandley, George YoussefGeorge Youssef, Sophia Vasiliadis, S A Thomas, E Frydenberg, A C JacksonINTRODUCTION: The risk for developing a gambling problem is greater among offspring who have a problem gambling parent, yet little research has directly examined the mechanisms by which this transmission of problem gambling occurs. For this reason, the present study sought to examine the degree to which children's expectancies and motives relating to gambling explain, at least in part, the intergenerational transmission of problem gambling. METHODS: Participants (N=524; 56.5% male) were recruited from educational institutions, and retrospectively reported on parental problem gambling. Problem gambling was measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index and a range of positive and negative expectancies and gambling motives were explored as potential mediators of the relationship between parent-and-participant problem gambling. RESULTS: The relationship between parent-and-participant problem gambling was significant, and remained so after controlling for sociodemographic factors and administration method. Significant mediators of this relationship included self-enhancement expectancies (feeling in control), money expectancies (financial gain), over-involvement (preoccupation with gambling) and emotional impact expectancies (guilt, shame, and loss), as well as enhancement motives (gambling to increase positive feelings) and coping motives (gambling to reduce or avoid negative emotions). All mediators remained significant when entered into the same model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight that gambling expectancies and motives present unique pathways to the development of problem gambling in the offspring of problem gambling parents, and suggest that gambling cognitions may be potential candidates for targeted interventions for the offspring of problem gamblers.
History
Journal
Addictive behaviorsVolume
77Pagination
16 - 20Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0306-4603eISSN
1873-6327Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2017, ElsevierUsage metrics
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