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The Relationship between Problem Gambling and Mental and Physical Health Correlates among a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Women

  • Quantitative Research
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Abstract

Objectives

Gambling has become an increasingly common activity among women since the widespread growth of the gambling industry. Currently, our knowledge of the relationship between problem gambling among women and mental and physical correlates is limited. Therefore, important relationships between problem gambling and health and functioning, mental disorders, physical health conditions, and help-seeking behaviours among women were examined using a nationally representative Canadian sample.

Methods

Data were from the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 (CCHS 1.2; n=10,056 women aged 15 years and older; data collected in 2002). The statistical analysis included binary logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression, and linear regression models.

Results

Past 12-month problem gambling was associated with a significantly higher probability of current lower general health, suicidal ideation and attempts, decreased psychological well-being, increased distress, depression, mania, panic attacks, social phobia, agoraphobia, alcohol dependence, any mental disorder, comorbidity of mental disorders, chronic bronchitis, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, help-seeking from a professional, attending a self-help group, and calling a telephone help line (odds ratios ranged from 1.5 to 8.2).

Conclusions

Problem gambling was associated with a broad range of negative health correlates among women. Problem gambling is an important public health concern. These findings can be used to inform healthy public policies on gambling.

Résumé

Objectif

Le jeu de hasard est de plus en plus répandu chez les femmes depuis la croissance généralisée de l’industrie du jeu. On connaît encore mal le lien entre les problèmes de jeu chez les femmes et les corrélats mentaux et physiques. C’est pourquoi nous avons examiné, à l’aide d’un échantillon canadien représentatif de tout le pays, les liens importants entre les problèmes de jeu des femmes, leur santé et leur fonctionnement, leurs troubles mentaux, leurs troubles physiques et leur propension à chercher de l’aide.

Méthode

Nos données proviennent du cycle 1.2 de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes (ESCC 1.2; N=10 056 femmes de 15 ans et plus; données recueillies en 2002). Notre analyse statistique a fait appel à des modèles de régression logistique binaire, de régression logistique multinomiale et de régression linéaire.

Résultats

Les problèmes de jeu au cours des 12 mois antérieurs étaient associés à une probabilité sensiblement plus élevée de présenter les facteurs suivants: moins bonne santé en général, idées suicidaires ou tentatives de suicide, bien-être psychologique diminué, détresse accrue, dépression, manie, crises de panique, phobie sociale, agoraphobie, dépendance à l’alcool, trouble mental, comorbidité de troubles mentaux, bronchite chronique, fibromyalgie, migraines, recherche d’aide auprès d’un professionnel, fréquentation d’un groupe d’entraide et appel à un service d’assistance téléphonique (les rapports de cotes variaient entre 1,5 et 8,2).

Conclusion

Les problèmes de jeu étaient associés à un vaste éventail de corrélats de santé négatifs chez les femmes. Ils représentent un important problème de santé publique. Les constatations de l’étude peuvent servir à étayer des politiques publiques favorisant la santé sur le jeu de hasard.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, R3E 3N4, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Tracie O. Afifi PhD, Brian J. Cox PhD, Patricia J. Martens PhD, Jitender Sareen MD & Murray W. Enns MD

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Brian J. Cox PhD, Jitender Sareen MD & Murray W. Enns MD

  3. Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Patricia J. Martens PhD

Authors
  1. Tracie O. Afifi PhD
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  2. Brian J. Cox PhD
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  3. Patricia J. Martens PhD
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  4. Jitender Sareen MD
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  5. Murray W. Enns MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tracie O. Afifi PhD.

Additional information

Disclaimer: Statistics Canada collected and provided the data for academic purposes, but the analyses are the sole responsibility of the author. The opinions expressed do not represent the views of Statistics Canada.

Acknowledgements: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Canada Graduate Scholarship; Manitoba Health Research Council (MHRC) PhD studentship (Afifi); Canada Research Chair (Cox); Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR/PHAC) Applied Public Health Chair (Martens); and CIHR New Investigator Award (#152348, Sareen).

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Afifi, T.O., Cox, B.J., Martens, P.J. et al. The Relationship between Problem Gambling and Mental and Physical Health Correlates among a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Women. Can J Public Health 101, 171–175 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404366

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404366

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