Hong Song-Iee, Sacco Paul, Cunningham-Williams Renee M
National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Aging Ment Health. 2009 Mar;13(2):265-73. doi: 10.1080/13607860802459849.
Despite the low prevalence of gambling problems, older adults experience poorer health status given certain vulnerabilities associated with aging. Thus, we aimed to classify lifetime (LPG) and current (CPG) problem gambling patterns, identify determinants of gambling patterns, and examine their association with current health status.
Using older adult gamblers (n = 489) in the Gambling Impact and Behavior Study, Latent Class Analysis classified LPG and CPG subgroups based on 10 DSM-IV criteria: preoccupation, tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, escape, chasing losses, lying, illegal acts, relationship impairment and financial bailout.
A two-class solution was the best fitting for LPG and CPG groups. Except for illegal acts, the remaining criteria endorsed the distinguishing patterns. We observed 10.8% LPGs, 8.4% CPGs and 2.2% with both. Participation in religious services was protective of both groups. Gambling for excitement and to win money were related to CPG. Further, CPG was significantly related to worse self-rated health.
Although problem gambling is strongly characterized by number and type of diagnostic criteria, findings support a focus to include targeted assessment of additional clinically meaningful gambling correlates. Research on the moderator of participation in faith-based communities on problem gambling is also warranted.
尽管赌博问题的患病率较低，但鉴于与衰老相关的某些脆弱性，老年人的健康状况较差。因此，我们旨在对终生问题赌博模式（LPG）和当前问题赌博模式（CPG）进行分类，确定赌博模式的决定因素，并研究它们与当前健康状况的关联。
在赌博影响与行为研究中，我们对489名老年赌徒进行研究，采用潜在类别分析，根据10项DSM-IV标准（专注、耐受性、戒断反应、失控、逃避、追逐损失、说谎、违法行为、人际关系受损和财务救助）对LPG和CPG亚组进行分类。
两类解决方案最适合LPG和CPG组。除了违法行为外，其余标准均支持不同的模式。我们观察到10.8%的终生问题赌徒、8.4%的当前问题赌徒以及2.2%的兼具两者特征的赌徒。参加宗教活动对两组都有保护作用。为了寻求刺激和赢钱而赌博与当前问题赌博模式相关。此外，当前问题赌博模式与较差的自评健康状况显著相关。
尽管问题赌博的强烈特征体现在诊断标准的数量和类型上，但研究结果支持重点关注对其他具有临床意义的赌博相关因素进行有针对性的评估。对基于信仰的社区参与对问题赌博的调节作用的研究也很有必要。
