scholarly journals Study Framing Influences Crowdsourced Rates of Problem Gambling and Alcohol Use Disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Jozef Angus ◽  
Dylan Pickering ◽  
Brittany Keen ◽  
Alexander Blaszczynski
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Self Selection ◽  
Harmful Alcohol ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Gambling Severity

Objective: Crowdsourcing is an increasingly popular source of participants in studies of problem gambling. Studies with crowdsourced samples have reported prevalence rates of problem gambling between 10 to 50 times higher than traditional sources of estimates. These elevated rates may be due to study framing motivating self-selection. In this preregistered study, we examined whether study framing influences self-reported problem gambling severity and harmful alcohol use in a sample of participants recruited from a popular crowdsourcing website.Method: Two recruitment notices for an online questionnaire were placed on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Notices were framed as “Gambling and Health” or “Alcohol and Health”. Only participants who passed data checks were retained for confirmatory analyses (N = 564; 44% of recruited participants). Participants in the gambling framing (N = 261) and in the alcohol framing (N = 303) were compared on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).Results: Problem gambling rates and severity scores were significantly greater for participants in the gambling framing compared to those in the alcohol framing. Self-reported scores of harmful alcohol use were significantly greater for participants in the alcohol framing compared to those in the gambling framing, but there was no significant difference in prevalence rates for harmful alcohol use.Conclusions: Study framing is an important consideration for gambling and alcohol research. We found that study framing may substantially increase the observed rates of problem gambling severity in crowdsourced samples, potentially via encouragement of self-selection.

FC18-02 - Cognitive distortions among online gamblers

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1911-1911
Author(s):  
T.-L. MacKay ◽  
D. Hodgins ◽  
N. Bard ◽  
M. Bowling
Keyword(s):  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Online Gambling ◽  
Gambling Problems ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Addictive Disorders ◽  
Gambling Severity ◽  
Online Gamblers

Addictive disorders are being increasingly influenced by technology and one of the most recent developments is for gamblers to access games via the Internet. Prevalence data show that up to 10% of the population gamble online and studies have consistently indicated that Internet gamblers are particularly susceptible to developing gambling problems. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore differences between Internet and non-Internet gamblers to help determine why online gamblers are more likely to have gambling problems. Three hundred and seventy four participants (143 online gamblers, 172 males) from a large Canadian university completed an online questionnaire to investigate demographic, medium-related, comorbid psychological and cognitive factors with strong empirical support for contributing to problem gambling severity. Variables that significantly differentiated Internet and non-Internet gamblers in a univariate analyses were entered into a logistic regression to predict online gambling. A test of the full model was statistically significant, correctly classifying 77% of gamblers (64% of Internet gamblers and 85% of non-Internet gamblers). Cognitive distortions made an independent contribution to predicting Internet gamblers from those that had never wagered online. A hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that cognitive distortions added significantly to problem gambling severity among online gamblers after controlling for other contributing variables. The findings have implications for clinicians working with Internet gamblers to specifically address thoughts related to luck, perseverance and illusion of control. As gambling technologies change and evolve, research needs to inform practice by identifying possible causal factors contributing to problem severity.

scholarly journals Alcohol Consumption among Freshman College Students in Spain: Individual and Pooled Analyses of Three Cross-Sectional Surveys (2005, 2012 and 2016)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2548
Author(s):  
Alicia Busto Miramontes ◽  
Lucía Moure-Rodríguez ◽  
Narmeen Mallah ◽  
Ainara Díaz-Geada ◽  
Montserrat Corral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Positive Expectancies

Objective: We aimed to evaluate changes in the prevalence of Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) and Risky Consumption (RC) in freshman college students between 2005, 2012 and 2016; and to identify the explanatory variables of these patterns of consumption using individual and pooled analyses. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 5260 students was carried out in Spain in 2005, 2012 and 2016. HED and RC were determined using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Another questionnaire was used to measure parental education level and alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, age of onset of alcohol use and alcohol-related expectancies. Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) of RC and HED and their 95% Confidence Intervals were estimated using logistic regression. Results: An increase in the prevalence rates of HED and RC was observed among women during the three-study periods, nonetheless there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence rates among men. High maternal educational level, living away from parental home, initiating drinking before the age of 15 and having positive expectancies about drinking are associated with higher prevalence of RC in both genders. High positive expectancies and early onset of alcohol use are associated with higher rates of HED among men and women. Students recruited in 2012 and 2016 are protected against RC in comparison to those recruited in 2005. Conclusions: The age of alcohol consumption onset is the most influencing factor on HED and RC for both genders in the three-study periods. Alcohol prevention campaigns targeting youth at early ages can reduce risky drinking behaviors.

An Analysis on Harmful Alcohol Use and Comparison between One-Person Households and Age Groups

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yerjin Park ◽  
◽  
Areum Oh ◽  
Yumi Oh ◽  
Yuseon Yang
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Harmful Alcohol

Only problem gamblers spend less money when loot boxes are removed from a game: A before and after study of Heroes of the Storm

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Zendle
Keyword(s):  
Video Games ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Real World ◽  
Complex Pattern ◽  
Problem Gamblers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Gambling Severity ◽  
Reliable Correlation ◽  
Before And After Study

Loot boxes are items in video games that may be paid for with real-world money, but which contain randomised contents. There is a reliable correlation between loot box spending and problem gambling severity: The more money gamers spend on loot boxes, the more severe their problem gambling tends to be. However, it is unclear whether this link represents a case in which loot box spending causes problem gambling; a case in which the gambling-like nature of loot boxes cause problem gamblers to spend more money; or whether it simply represents a case in which there is a general dysregulation in in-game spending amongst problem gamblers, nonspecific to loot boxes.The multiplayer video game Heroes of the Storm recently removed loot boxes. In order to better understand links between loot boxes and problem gambling, we conducted an analysis of players of Heroes of the Storm (n=112) both before and after the removal of loot boxes.There were a complex pattern of results. In general, when loot boxes were removed from Heroes of the Storm, problem gamblers appeared to spend significantly less money in-game in contrast to other groups. These results suggest that the presence of loot boxes in a game may lead to problem gamblers spending more money in-game. It therefore seems possible that links between loot box spending and problem gambling are not due to a general dysregulation in in-game spending amongst problem gamblers, but rather are to do with specific features of loot boxes themselves.

scholarly journals Gambling problems in bipolar disorder in the UK: Prevalence and distribution

2015 ◽  
Vol 207 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Jones ◽  
Alice Metcalf ◽  
Katherine Gordon-Smith ◽  
Liz Forty ◽  
Amy Perry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Gambling Problems ◽  
Rapid Cycling ◽  
Probable Significance ◽  
History Of ◽  
Gambling Severity ◽  
The Uk

BackgroundNorth American studies show bipolar disorder is associated with elevated rates of problem gambling; however, little is known about rates in the different presentations of bipolar illness.AimsTo determine the prevalence and distribution of problem gambling in people with bipolar disorder in the UK.MethodThe Problem Gambling Severity Index was used to measure gambling problems in 635 participants with bipolar disorder.ResultsModerate to severe gambling problems were four times higher in people with bipolar disorder than in the general population, and were associated with type 2 disorder (OR = 1.74, P = 0.036), history of suicidal ideation or attempt (OR = 3.44, P = 0.02) and rapid cycling (OR = 2.63, P = 0.008).ConclusionsApproximately 1 in 10 patients with bipolar disorder may be at moderate to severe risk of problem gambling, possibly associated with suicidal behaviour and a rapid cycling course. Elevated rates of gambling problems in type 2 disorder highlight the probable significance of modest but unstable mood disturbance in the development and maintenance of such problems.

scholarly journals Correlates and Treatment Outcome of Risky Sexual Behaviour in Young Males with ADHD and Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder: A Prospective Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-69
Author(s):  
Shankar Kumar ◽  
Yamini Devendran ◽  
Madhumitha N. S. ◽  
Javagal Amith Thejas
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Risky Sexual Behavior ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Inattention And Hyperactivity

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with risky sexual behavior (RSB). Alcohol use and high perceived stress in young adulthood contributes to this association. Previous studies have not found methylphenidate to reduce RSB in ADHD, as the population had comorbidities such as mood disorders and antisocial personality disorder. We aimed to study (a) the association of RSB with ADHD and severity of alcohol use among adolescents and young adult males with ADHD who had comorbid alcohol use disorder and (b) the effect of treatment of ADHD using methylphenidate on RSB in this population at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Methodology: The study had 31 participants who were selected by screening for RSBs using the sexual behavior section of the HIV Risk-taking Behavior Scale (HRBS) manual among a cohort of individuals with ADHD and early onset alcohol use. These individuals were also administered WHO ADHD self-report scale (ASRS), alcohol-use disorders identification test (AUDIT), perceived stress scale (PSS), and HRBS-sexual behavior section. They were then treated with methylphenidate and these assessments were repeated at 3 and 6 months. Results: Those having ADHD with RSB had higher total ADHD score ( P = .007) and inattention score ( p = .0001) than those without RSB. There was a significant correlation between the ADHD total score with alcohol-use severity ( r = 0.47), with RSB ( r = 0.34), and ADHD hyperactivity scores with alcohol-use severity ( r = 0.49) and with RSB ( r = 0.34). There was also a significant reduction of ADHD total, inattention and hyperactivity scores, alcohol-use severity scores, RSB and perceived stress scores with use of methylphenidate at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Multiple logistic regression predicted reduction in ADHD total scores to reduce RSB (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26, P = .01). Conclusion: RSB was associated with severity of ADHD and alcohol use. Methylphenidate not only reduced ADHD severity but also alcohol-use severity and RSB, whose reduction was predicted by reduction in ADHD severity.

scholarly journals Assessment of new-onset depression and anxiety associated with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Hurissi ◽  
Ethar Abu-jabir ◽  
Amnah Mohammed ◽  
Mashael Mahnashi ◽  
Sana Alharbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Arabian Population ◽  
New Onset

Abstract Background Psychological disorders are common among individuals who experienced COVID-19. Previous studies have shown that females report higher depression and anxiety than males. The present study aims to test the differences in depression and anxiety between males and females who have experienced COVID-19. This a descriptive, observational, comparative study, among Saudi Arabian population. A total of 686 participants have been recruited. Participants completed an online questionnaire that contains questions about sociodemographic, COVID-19, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure anxiety and depression, respectively. Results Twenty-six percent of the participants were excluded and our final sample consisted of 507 participants (median age 23; 65% females). Of the final sample, 23% (118) have been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. There is no significant difference in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores between COVID-19- positive and COVID-19-negative populations. However, females who have experienced COVID-19 reported significantly higher GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores compared to males. Conclusion The results of our study show that females are significantly at a higher risk for depression and anxiety as a result of COVID-19 infection compared to males. Further epidemiological studies are required for a better understanding of this correlation.

scholarly journals Emotional Bonding and Sexual Activity During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-National Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 263183182110274
Author(s):  
Deblina Roy ◽  
Sujita Kumar Kar ◽  
SM Yasir Arafat ◽  
Pawan Sharma ◽  
Russell Kabir
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Emotional Bonding ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Study Participants

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures have affected the sexuality and emotional bonding among the couple across the world. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the married people’s emotional bonding and sexual relationships in 3 south Asian counties (Bangladesh, India, and Nepal). Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Bangladesh, India, and Nepal residents from April 3 to April 15, 2020. The survey was designed in English. The participants were selected through convenience sampling technique, the link of the online questionnaire was shared with the participants. Only participants older than 18 years and above, married, and living with their spouses were included in the study. Results: A total number of 120 respondents were included finally for analysis from the participating countries (India, Nepal, and Bangladesh). The mean age of the participants was 35.42 (±5.73) years; the majority were males under the age of 40 years and had completed postgraduation as their qualification. Among the study participants, more than half (53.8%) of the women reported being sexually active during the lockdown, whereas 41% of the men reported being sexually active. Among the sexually active participants, most women (57.7%) reported that they perceived positive emotional bonding with their partners. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference observed when compared with men. There are variations in responses. However, no significant association was identified. Conclusion: There are a few insights from the study, that is, there was no significant difference found in almost 3 countries in emotional intimacy. There had been a trend that there is improved emotional bonding with their partners, although no significant difference was observed.

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