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Gambling Type, Substance Abuse, Health and Psychosocial Correlates of Male and Female Problem Gamblers in a Nationally Representative French Sample

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Abstract

Many studies carried out on treatment-seeking problem gamblers (PG) have reported high levels of comorbid substance use disorders, and mental and physical health problems. Nevertheless, general population studies are still sparse, most of them have been carried out in the United States or Canada, and gender differences have not always been considered. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the type of games, and psychological and physical correlates in male and female PG in a nationally representative French sample. The total sample studied involved 25,647 subjects aged 15–85 years, including 333 PG and 25,314 non-problem gamblers (NPG). Data were extracted from a large survey of a representative sample of the French general population. They were evaluated for sociodemographic variables, gambling behavior, type of gambling activity, substance use, psychological distress, body mass index, chronic disease, and lack of sleep. Overall, there were significant differences between PG and NPG in gender, age, education, employment and marital status, substance use disorders (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine and heroin), psychological distress, obesity, lack of sleep and type of gambling activity. Although male and female PG had different profiles, the gambling type, especially strategic games, appeared as an important variable in the relationship between gender and problem gambling. This research underlines the importance of considering gender differences and gambling type in the study of gambling disorders. Identifying specific factors in the relationship between gender, gambling type and gambling problems may help improve clinical interventions and health promotion strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratory of Psychopathology and Health Processes, EA 4057, Psychological Institute of Paris Descartes University, Paris Descartes University, 71 Avenue Édouard Vaillant, 92 100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France

    C. Bonnaire

  2. EHESP Rennes, Sorbonne Paris Cite, EA 4057, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France

    V. Kovess-Masfety

  3. Scientific Affairs Department, National Institute for Health Promotion and Health Education (INPES), Saint-Denis, France

    R. Guignard, J. B. Richard & E. du Roscoät

  4. Parisian Laboratory of Social Psychology, EA 4386, University of Paris West-Nanterre-La Défense, Nanterre, France

    E. du Roscoät

  5. French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT), 3 Avenue du Stade de France, 93218, Saint-Denis, France

    F. Beck

  6. UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP UMRS 1136), ERES, Sorbonne Universités, 75012, Paris, France

    F. Beck

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  1. C. Bonnaire
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  2. V. Kovess-Masfety
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  3. R. Guignard
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  4. J. B. Richard
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  5. E. du Roscoät
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  6. F. Beck
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Correspondence to C. Bonnaire.

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Bonnaire, C., Kovess-Masfety, V., Guignard, R. et al. Gambling Type, Substance Abuse, Health and Psychosocial Correlates of Male and Female Problem Gamblers in a Nationally Representative French Sample. J Gambl Stud 33, 343–369 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-016-9628-4

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