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Stacking the Odds: A Phenomenological Study of Non-problem Gambling in Later Life*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Brad Hagen ,
Gary Nixon  and
Jason Solowoniuk
Brad Hagen*
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge
Gary Nixon
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge
Jason Solowoniuk
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être addressées à : Dr. Brad Hagen, School of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4. (brad.hagen@uleth.ca)
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Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory, phenomenological-hermeneutic study was to explore the experience of non-problem gambling by older adults. Twelve older gamblers were identified as non-problem gamblers using two gambling screens and participated in in-depth interviews about their experience of gambling. Two major themes emerged from the interviews: the attractions of gambling and methods to keep gambling in control. Older persons sought out gambling for a variety of reasons: social contact, the food and the excitement, chances to give to charity, chances to have an inexpensive holiday, and the need for a safe way to be “bad”. Participants also described a number of cognitive and behavioural strategies to keep their gambling from becoming a problem. The results of this small exploratory study suggest that gambling is a popular form of social entertainment for older persons, although the main attractions of gambling have little or nothing to do with gambling itself. Older persons also appear to possess numerous strategies to keep gambling from becoming a problem.

Résumé

Le but de cette exploration phénoménologique-herméneutique était d'explorer les expériences de jeux des adultes plus âgés qui sont sans problème de jeux. Douze joueurs plus âgés ont été identifiés comme étant des joueurs sans problèmes. En utilisant des écrans de jeux, ils ont participé à des entrevues en profondeur sur leurs expériences avec le jeu. Deux idées principales sont ressorties des entrevues : les attractions au jeu et les diverses méthodes utilisées afin de contrôler l'abus du jeu. Les personnes âgées prennent part au jeu pour l'aspect social, la nourriture, l'excitation, en plus des chances de pouvoir donner à des oeuvres de bienfaisances et de faire des voyages peu coû teux ; c'est aussi une façon sécuritaire de faire ce que la société étiquette comme étant interdit. Les participants ont aussi énoncé plusieurs stratégies pour ne pas que les jeux progressent à un niveau problématique. Le résultat de cette courte étude d'exploration suggère que le jeu soit une forme de divertissement social pour les personnes âgées, bien que la principale attraction n'ait presque ou rien n'à voir avec le jeu lui-même. Les personnes âgées semblent aussi posséder plusieurs stratégies pour prendre part au jeu, sans que cela soit problématique.

Keywords

aginggamblingagedphenomenologynarrativevieillissementjeupersonnes âgéesphénoménologienarration
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , Winter/Hiver 2005 , pp. 433 - 442
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2005

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Footnotes

*

The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the research funding support of the Alberta Gaming Research Institute (AGRI) for this project, and Dr. Robert Williams for his review of this manuscript.

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