Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The family environment of married male pathological gamblers, alcoholics, and dually addicted gamblers

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of gambling behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The family environments of married pathological gamblers, alcoholics, and alcoholic gamblers were measured with the Family Environment Scale (FES), a measure of 10 characteristics of family life. The total sample consists of 193 hospitalized patients, which includes 73 male alcoholics, 53 female alcoholics, and 67 male pathological gamblers, of whom 34 were alcoholics and 33 were not. All four treatment groups had a significantly lower degree of cohesion than normal controls. Male alcoholic gamblers reported significantly more conflict and less personal independence than controls, while male gamblers (nonalcoholics) reported less independence and intellectual-cultural orientation. Male alcoholics (nongamblers) reported more conflict, less independence, intellectual-cultural orientation, and active-recreational orientation than normals. Female alcoholics (nongamblers) also reported less intellectual-cultural orientation and active-recreational orientation than normals. Except for one comparison, treatment groups did not differ from each other. The implications of these findings for models of addiction are discussed as well as their contribution to understanding family issues for pathological gamblers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahrons, S. (1989).A comparison of the family environments and psychological distress of married pathological gamblers, alcoholics, psychiatric patients and their spouses with normal controls. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland.

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder (3rd ed., revised). Washington, DC.

  • Brown, R.I.F. (1988). Models of gambling and gambling addictions as perceptual filters.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 3 224–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciarrocchi, J.W. (1987). Severity of impairment of dually addicted gamblers.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 3 16–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciarrocchi, J., and Richardson, R. (1989). Profile of compulsive gamblers in treatment: Update and comparisons.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 5 53–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfield, R., and Cross, C. (1982). Epidemiology of affective disorders: Psychosocial risk factors.Archives of General Psychiatry, 29 35–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, D.F. (1986). A general theory of addictions: A new theoretical model.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 2 15–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur, H. (1984).The chase. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur, H., Blume, S., & Zoppa, R. (1986). Alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling.Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 10 33–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, V.C., and Yaffe, R.A. (1986). Pathological gambling: Psychosomatic, emotional and marital difficulties as reported by the gambler.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 2 40–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R.H., and Finney, J.W. (1983). The expanding scope of alcoholism treatment evaluation.American Psychologist, 38 1036–1044.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R.H., Finney, J.W., & Gamble, W. (1982). The process of recovery from alcoholism: II. Comparing spouses of alcoholic patients and matched community controls.Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 43 888–909.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R.H., & Moos, B.S. (1981).Family Environment Scale manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R.H., & Moos, B.S. (1984). The process of recovery from alcoholism: III. Comparing functioning in families of alcoholics and matched control families.Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 45 111–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paolino, T.J., Jr., & McCrady, B.S. (1977).The alcoholic marriage: alternative perspectives. New York: Grune & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tepperman, J.H. (1985). The effectiveness of short-term group therapy upon the pathological gambler and wife.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 1 119–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsuang, M.T. (1982).Schizophrenia — The facts. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Taylor Manor Hospital, College Avenue, 21043, Ellicott City, Maryland

    Joseph Ciarrocchi Ph.D.

  2. Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland

    Ann A. Hohmann Ph.D., M.P.H.

Authors
  1. Joseph Ciarrocchi Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ann A. Hohmann Ph.D., M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The authors express their deep appreciation to Les Franklin for data recording and to Kathe Fontana for manuscript preparation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ciarrocchi, J., Hohmann, A.A. The family environment of married male pathological gamblers, alcoholics, and dually addicted gamblers. J Gambling Stud 5, 283–291 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01672429

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01672429

Keywords

Search

Navigation