Hing Nerilee, Russell Alex Myles Thomas, Gainsbury Sally Melissa, Blaszczynski Alex
Centre for Gambling Education and Research, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia.
J Med Internet Res. 2015 Jan 7;17(1):e13. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3781.
Previous studies of problem Internet gamblers have failed to distinguish whether their problem gambling relates to Internet or land-based gambling modes. Therefore, characteristics and help-seeking behaviors of people whose gambling problems relate specifically to Internet gambling are unknown, but could inform the optimal alignment of treatment and support services with the needs and preferences of problem gamblers.
This study aimed to compare (1) characteristics of problem Internet gamblers and problem land-based gamblers and (2) uptake of different types and modes of help between problem Internet gamblers and problem land-based gamblers. Hypothesis 1 was that problem Internet gamblers are less likely to seek help. Hypothesis 2 was that problem Internet gamblers are more likely to use online modes of help.
A sample of 620 respondents meeting criteria for problem gambling was drawn from an online survey of 4594 Australian gamblers. Respondents were recruited through advertisements on gambling and gambling help websites, Facebook, and Google. Measures consisted of gambling participation; proportion of gambling on the Internet; most problematic mode of gambling; help seeking from 11 different sources of formal help, informal help, and self-help for gambling problems; psychological distress (Kessler 6); problem gambling severity (Problem Gambling Severity Index, PGSI); and demographics.
Problem Internet gamblers were significantly more likely than problem land-based gamblers to be male (χ(2) 1=28.3, P<.001, φ=0.21), younger (t616.33=4.62, P<.001, d=0.37), have lower psychological distress (χ(2) 1=5.4, P=.02, φ=0.09), and experience problems with sports and race wagering (χ(2) 4=228.5, P<.001, φ=0.61). Uptake of help was significantly lower among problem Internet compared to problem land-based gamblers (χ(2) 1=6.9, P<.001, φ=0.11), including from face-to-face services, gambling helplines, online groups, self-exclusion from land-based venues, family or friends, and self-help strategies. Both problem Internet and problem land-based gamblers had similarly low use of online help. However, problem land-based gamblers (37.6%, 126/335) were significantly more likely to have sought land-based formal help compared to problem Internet gamblers (23.5%, 67/285; χ(2) 1=14.3, P<.001, φ=0.15).
The findings suggest that more targeted and innovative efforts may be needed to increase use of gambling help by problem Internet gamblers. Alternatively, their lower PGSI and K6 scores suggest Internet problem gamblers may have less need for gambling-related help. This is the first known study to classify problem Internet gamblers as those whose problem gambling specifically relates to Internet gambling. Further research is needed to better understand why help-seeking rates are lower among Internet problem gamblers.
以往对问题网络赌徒的研究未能区分他们的问题赌博是与网络赌博模式还是与地面赌博模式相关。因此，赌博问题具体与网络赌博相关的人群的特征和求助行为尚不清楚，但这可能有助于使治疗和支持服务与问题赌徒的需求和偏好实现最佳匹配。
本研究旨在比较（1）问题网络赌徒和问题地面赌徒的特征，以及（2）问题网络赌徒和问题地面赌徒在接受不同类型和方式帮助方面的情况。假设1为问题网络赌徒寻求帮助的可能性较小。假设2为问题网络赌徒更有可能使用在线帮助方式。
从对4594名澳大利亚赌徒的在线调查中抽取了620名符合问题赌博标准的受访者作为样本。通过在赌博及赌博帮助网站、脸书和谷歌上发布广告招募受访者。测量内容包括赌博参与情况；网络赌博的比例；最成问题的赌博模式；从11种不同的正式帮助、非正式帮助和自助来源寻求解决赌博问题的帮助；心理困扰（凯斯勒6项量表）；问题赌博严重程度（问题赌博严重程度指数，PGSI）；以及人口统计学特征。
问题网络赌徒比问题地面赌徒显著更可能为男性（χ²(1)=28.3，P<.001，φ=0.21）、更年轻（t(616.33)=4.62，P<.001，d=0.37）、心理困扰程度更低（χ²(1)=5.4，P=.02，φ=0.09），并且在体育和赛马投注方面存在问题（χ²(4)=228.5，P<.001，φ=0.61）。与问题地面赌徒相比，问题网络赌徒寻求帮助的比例显著更低（χ²(1)=6.9，P<.001，φ=0.11），包括来自面对面服务、赌博求助热线、在线群组、地面场所自我排除、家人或朋友以及自助策略等方面的帮助。问题网络赌徒和问题地面赌徒对在线帮助的使用都同样较少。然而，与问题网络赌徒（23.5%，67/285）相比，问题地面赌徒（37.6%，126/335）寻求地面正式帮助的可能性显著更高（χ²(1)=14.3，P<.001，φ=0.15）。
研究结果表明，可能需要更有针对性和创新性的努力来提高问题网络赌徒对赌博帮助的利用。或者，他们较低的PGSI和K6得分表明网络问题赌徒可能对与赌博相关的帮助需求较少。这是第一项将问题网络赌徒界定为问题赌博具体与网络赌博相关人群的已知研究。需要进一步研究以更好地理解为什么网络问题赌徒的求助率较低。
