scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Low-investment Pachinko/pachislot in Reducing Gambling-related Harms: A Cross Sectional Study

Author(s):  
Kengo Yokomitsu ◽  
Kazuya Inoue ◽  
Tomonari Irie

Abstract Background: Pachinko and pachislot are popular types of gambling activities in Japan. Prior studies in Japan have reported a concerning prevalence of gambling disorder among university students and adult players. While these studies have identified various gambling-related harms, Japanese research on harm-minimization strategies is scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of low-investment pachinko and pachislot as a harm-reduction strategy. Methods: We also called gamblers who played for the normal amount as “normal-pachi players,” those who played pachinko and pachislot for half of the normal amount were called “half-pachi players,” and those who played for a quarter of the normal amount were called “quarter-pachi players.” To assess the effect of harm reduction, a one-way ANCOVA was conducted to compare the impact of the groups (normal-pachi players [n= 101], half-pachi players [n= 104], and quarter-pachi players [n= 100]) on dependent variables, namely the number of days players had gambled during the prior month, the total time and amount of money spent on gambling, debts caused by gambling, gambling severity, cognitive distortion, depressive symptoms, and disability. Results: We demonstrated that the amount of money spent by quarter-pachi players on gambling during the past month was lower than that of normal-pachi players. However, we did not find significant differences with respect to any other gambling-related harms among normal-, half-, and quarter-pachi players. Conclusion: Low-investment pachinko and pachislot can reduce the amount of money spent on gambling. It can thus partly act as a harm-minimization strategy. Moreover, the results of present study indicate that the level of disability at work affects various outcomes for gamblers. Given that 90% of the participants in this study were employed, the results of this study may have important implications for employed gamblers. Interventions should be devised to reduce work-related disabilities among employed adults with a gambling disorder.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kengo Yokomitsu ◽  
Kazuya Inoue ◽  
Tomonari Irie

Abstract BackgroundPachinko and pachislot are popular types of gambling activities in Japan. Prior studies in Japan have reported a concerning prevalence of problem gambling among adult players. While these studies have identified various gambling-related harms, Japanese research on harm-minimization strategies is scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of low-investment pachinko and pachislot as a harm-reduction strategy. MethodsWe considered gamblers who played games that cost the typical amount of money to be “normal-pachi players.” Those who played low-investment games were categorized as “half-pachi players” and “quarter-pachi players,” reflecting those who played games at half or one quarter the cost of a typical machine, respectively. To assess the harm-reduction effect, a one-way ANCOVA was conducted to compare the impact of the groups (normal-pachi players [n= 101], half-pachi players [n= 104], and quarter-pachi players [n= 100]) on dependent variables, namely the number of days players had gambled during the prior month; total time and amount of money spent on gambling; debts caused by gambling; gambling severity; cognitive distortion; depressive symptoms; and problems in work, family, and social life. ResultsWe demonstrated that the amount of money spent by quarter-pachi players on gambling during the past month was lower than that of normal-pachi players. However, we did not find significant differences with respect to any other gambling-related harms among normal-, half-, and quarter-pachi players. ConclusionLow-investment pachinko and pachislot can reduce the amount of money spent on gambling. It can thus partly act as a harm-minimization strategy. Moreover, the results of the present study indicate that the problems at work affect various outcomes for gamblers. Given that 90% of the participants in this study were employed, the results of this study may have important implications for employed gamblers.


Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Bieńkowska ◽  
Elżbieta Gos ◽  
Justyna Kutyba ◽  
Joanna Rajchel ◽  
Piotr Henryk Skarżyński ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is an auditory impression without any external auditory stimulus. It may cause negative symptoms (anxiety, insomnia, depression) significantly affecting work performance and job satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the job satisfaction in tinnitus sufferers. METHODS: Cross- sectional study were conducted and 51 individuals (23–70 years) were recruited. Participants completed two questionnaires: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Job Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: People affected by tinnitus report higher job satisfaction than healthy people. Job satisfaction was significantly related to age: r = 0.31; p <  0.05 in all tinnitus patients. There was a correlation between job satisfaction and tinnitus severity but only in people with normal hearing (–0.69; p <  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that job satisfaction is affected by the level of tinnitus annoyance (from both its emotional and functional aspects), but only in people with normal hearing. In future research it is recommended that additional factors be investigated, both work and non-work related, to thoroughly explore the impact of tinnitus on job satisfaction.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089484532110392
Author(s):  
Najat Firzly ◽  
Melodie Chamandy ◽  
Luc Pelletier ◽  
Martine Lagacé

Using self-determination theory among a sample of student employees, the present cross-sectional study ( N = 358) examines how mentors’ interpersonal behaviors relate to both motivation at work and motivation for a mentoring relationship and how these two contexts of motivation can differentially relate to mentees’ work outcomes. Results revealed that mentors’ need-supportive interpersonal behaviors were associated with greater autonomous motivation at work and in the mentoring relationship and, in turn, to greater well-being and work engagement, and to lower turnover intentions. In contrast, need-thwarting interpersonal behaviors were associated with greater controlled motivation at work and in the mentoring relationship and, in turn, to lower well-being and work engagement, and to greater turnover intentions. Overall, this study illustrates the impact of the mentor–mentee relationship on motivation for work and for the mentoring relationship and provided support for the contribution of both motivational contexts in the work-related outcomes of employees in the workplace.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renate C. W. J. Willems ◽  
Constance H. C. Drossaert ◽  
Harald S. Miedema ◽  
Ernst T. Bohlmeijer

Background: Crisis line services, run by volunteers, offer a listening ear 24/7 to people who cannot or do not want to use professional help. Although previous studies have identified various potential stressors crisis line volunteers face, as yet a comprehensive assessment is lacking with regards to the frequency and perceived stressfulness of work- and organization-related demands, and their relationship with distress and a volunteer's intention to leave.Objective: To identify the frequency and impact of particular stressful situations (demands). In addition, to examine the extent to which these demands are associated with volunteers' demographics, distress and intention to leave the crisis line service.Method: In a cross-sectional study among 543 volunteers of a Dutch crisis line service the participants filled out a questionnaire about their experience of a large number of work- and organization-related demands and their perceived stressfulness. To calculate the impact of demands, the occurrence and stressfulness were multiplied. In addition, work-related distress, intention to leave the crisis line service as well as a number of demographics and work-related characteristics were assessed.Results: Work-related demands with the highest impact on volunteers were calls from people with psychiatric problems and suicidal intentions. “Having no time for a break” was the organization-related demand with the highest impact on volunteers. Eighteen percentage of the volunteers scored moderate or high on distress and 4% had the intention to leave the crisis line service within 1 year. Most work- and organization-related demands were positively associated with volunteers' distress and intention to leave the organization. Being older, being male and spending more hours per week volunteering were significantly, positively correlated with work-related demands. The total explained variance for distress was 16% and for intention to leave 13%.Conclusion: Although most crisis line volunteers experienced low impact from work- and organization-related demands, these demands were significantly related to experienced distress and the intention to leave crisis line service. For volunteers with moderate to high distress it can be useful to implement interventions aimed at increasing personal resources to help them deal with the challenges of the work at the crisis line.


2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 602-605
Author(s):  
Z Amir ◽  
A J Reid

Abstract Background Little is known about the prevalence of burnout among Irish midwives and how traumatic perinatal events in work contributes to this. Aims To establish the prevalence of burnout among midwives in Ireland and whether exposure to traumatic perinatal events in work contributes to this. Methods A cross-sectional study utilizing a designed questionnaire was carried out in a tertiary-referral maternity hospital involving all clinical midwives (n = 248). Demographic details and frequency of perinatal events deemed traumatic were recorded. The extent of distress was documented on two visual analogues read in combination to reflect the impact of the distressing events. Burnout severity was assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Results The response rate was 55% (n = 137). Mean scores for personal, work-related and patient-related burnout were 56.0, 55.9 and 34.3, respectively. Over 90% of respondents experienced exposure to a traumatic event in work in the previous year, with 58% reporting a frequency of monthly or greater. No significant relationship was demonstrated between frequency of trauma and burnout; however, the extent of distress experienced was positively related to burnout in each domain (R2 = 0.18, 0.15 and 0.09, respectively, P &lt; 0.01). A modest negative linear relationship exists between personal and work-related burnout and increasing age (ρ = −0.25 and −0.27, P &lt; 0.01). A significant difference in work-related burnout score was evident between midwives with less experience and more experienced colleagues (P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions Burnout is common among midwives. Exposure to discrete traumatic perinatal events experienced by women under their care contributes to this.


2009 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-311
Author(s):  
Saif-ur-Rehman . ◽  
Kashif-ur-Rehman .

The aim of this study is to analyse the reliability and validity of job factors in relation to the impact of occupational stress on employees’ somatic symptoms, job anxiety and turnover intention through a two time cross-sectional study of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The method employed consisted of two times self-reported cross-sectional surveys that covered 420 respondents at T1 and 388 respondents at T2. Results: Appropriate internal consistencies of the seven scales i.e. demands, control, job stress, social supports, employees’ somatic symptoms, job anxiety and turnover intention were obtained. Zero-order correlation and linear and multiple regressions analysis replicated the theoretically assumed structure of the job factors and employees’ somatic symptoms, job anxiety and turnover intention construct in men and women collectively. Evidence of criterion validity was obtained from cross-correlations of the scales and from their linear and multiple regression analysis. Finally, all seven measures were associated with a highly significant ratio of job stress, and the effect was strongest for the job stress ratio as predicted by the fundamental theory of Karasek. Conclusion: We examine how users, who are assimilating job factors into their work, experience the level of work related demands in their jobs, the level of autonomy/control they have over their work, and how these relate to outcomes, such as employees’ somatic symptoms, job anxiety and turnover intention. Based on the results of this study the seven-version scale is considered reliable and serves as a valid instrument for measuring psychosocial pressure in work environment. These outcomes and measures are applicable to all services and manufacturing industries. Keywords: Work Overload, Work Control, Organisational Support, Job Stress, Somatic Symptoms, Job Anxiety, and Employees Turnover Intention (ETI)


VASA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian-Alexander Behrendt ◽  
Tilo Kölbel ◽  
Thea Schwaneberg ◽  
Holger Diener ◽  
Ralf Hohnhold ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: Worldwide prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is increasing and peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) has become the primary invasive treatment. There is evidence that multidisciplinary team decision-making (MTD) has an impact on in-hospital outcomes. This study aims to depict practice patterns and time changes regarding MTD of different medical specialties. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study design. 20,748 invasive, percutaneous PVI of PAD conducted in the metropolitan area of Hamburg (Germany) were consecutively collected between January 2004 and December 2014. Results: MTD prior to PVI was associated with lower odds of early unsuccessful termination of the procedures (Odds Ratio 0.662, p < 0.001). The proportion of MTD decreased over the study period (30.9 % until 2009 vs. 16.6 % from 2010, p < 0.001) while rates of critical limb-threatening ischemia (34.5 % vs. 42.1 %), patients´ age (70 vs. 72 years), PVI below-the-knee (BTK) (13.2 % vs. 22.4 %), and rates of severe TASC C/D lesions BTK (43.2 % vs. 54.2 %) increased (all p < 0.001). Utilization of MTD was different between medical specialties with lowest frequency in procedures performed by internists when compared to other medical specialties (7.1 % vs. 25.7 %, p < 0.001). Conclusions: MTD prior to PVI is associated with technical success of the procedure. Nonetheless, rates of MTD prior to PVI are decreasing during the study period. Future studies should address the impact of multidisciplinary vascular teams on long-term outcomes.


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