The impacts of gambling on families and young people

Associate Professor Nicki Dowling and Ms Sophie Vasiliadis

Chair: Dr Anna Thomas

This webinar is part of the CFCA information exchange webinar series, presented in

collaboration with the Australian Gambling Research Centre and the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of the Australian Institute of Family Studies or the Australian Government.

Gambling in Australia

Gambling is a common activity in Australia

In 2011 around 64% of Australians gambled On average Australians spend > $1000 per capita in

a year We are the biggest gamblers in the world

Reproduced from The Economist, 2014

Gambling in Australia

Most ‘popular’ activities are lotto, scratch-it tickets, race betting, pokies

Highest spending is on pokies, casino games and race betting

Sports betting still a small market (play and expenditure) but growing rapidly

Gambling Expenditure, 2010-11°

*Australian Gambling Statistics Summary Tables 2010-11 ^ AGRC, Gambling in Australia Fact Sheet, 2014 ° Expenditure after winnings subtracted

GamingMachines Casino Racing

Lotteries,Lotto &Pools

Keno SportsBetting

InstantLottery

MinorGaming

OverallGambling

PER AUSTRALIAN ADULT* $619.98 $215.58 $157.39 $91.37 $16.64 $18.78 $12.23 $1.45 $1,133.42PER ADULT GAMBLER^ $3,169.77 $1,461.79 $697.39 $210.16 $185.77 $140.49 $38.57 $48.92 $1,759.27

$-

$500.00

$1,000.00

$1,500.00

$2,000.00

$2,500.00

$3,000.00

$3,500.00

Year

ly Sp

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(A$)

Gambling-related Harm

Around 3% of the population experience moderate-severe problems from their gambling

Much larger proportion (possibly 19%) experiencing some concerns/harms related to their gambling

People around the gambler also harmed – perhaps 5-10 people per ‘problem gambler’

Gambling-related Harm

Gambling most associated with harm Linked to expenditure Pokies by far the biggest cause of harm Race betting Online sports betting again a growing phenomenon

Gambling-related Harm

Even a single episode of gambling can cause harm Unable to pay bills Inadequate money for food or socialising

Extended gambling problems lead to major, long term harm to gambler and to those around them unmanageable debt, poverty, homelessness Broken relationships, domestic violence, neglect of children, loss of trust loss of self-esteem, feelings of stigmatisation, social isolation Mental and physical health problems legal or forensic consequences Intergenerational transmission of gambling problems

Assisting those harmed by gambling

Low rates of formal help seeking Gambling problems rarely present in isolation High levels of comorbidity with other issues

Mental and physical health issues Alcohol and other drug issues Financial or forensic problems Relationship problems

If you are seeing people with these issues you are seeing people harmed by gambling

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

THE IMPACT OF GAMBLING PROBLEMS ON FAMILIES

Nicki Dowling Associate Professor of Psychology School of Psychology Deakin University Email: nicki.dowling@deakin.edu.au

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

CONTENTS 1. What are the impacts of gambling

problems on families? – Impact on family relationships – Impact on the health and wellbeing of family members – Presenting issues of treatment seeking family members

2. How do family members cope with gambling problems?

3. What are the assessment and treatment options for family members?

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF GAMBLING PROBLEMS ON FAMILIES?

Impact on Family Relationships Impact on Intimate Relationships

Source: Custer & Milt (1985)

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Impact on Family Environments • Impaired family environments • Children exposed to family stressors

Common Problems Reported by Family Members The loss of household or personal money

Arguments

Anger and violence

Lies and deception

Neglect of family

Negatively affected relationships

Poor communication

Confusion of family roles and responsibilities

The development of gambling problems or other addictions within the family (Source: Kalischuk et al., 2006)

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Problem Gambling and Family Violence • Growing international evidence that gambling

problems are associated with family violence • Systematic review (Dowling et al., in press)

• 38% of problem gamblers report victimisation • 37% of problem gamblers report perpetration • 11% of IPV perpetrators report gambling problems

• Violence extends to children and other family members

• Exact nature of the relationship yet to be determined

• Preliminary findings suggest problem gambling precedes both victimisation and perpetration (Suomi et al., 2013)

• Several factors implicated in the relationship • Victimisation: less than full employment, anger problems • Perpetration: younger age, less than full employment, anger

problems, impulsivity, alcohol and substance use

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Impact on the Health and Wellbeing of Family Members

Impact on Family Member Emotional and Physical Health

Intimate partners Children Emotional disturbances

Anger Resentment Depression Anxiety

Depression Hopelessness Anxiety Confusion Guilt

Physical complaints

Headaches Gastrointestinal ailments Hypertension

Asthma Allergies Chronic headaches

Behavioural difficulties

Excessive drinking Smoking Over-/under-eating Impulsive spending

Running away Alcohol and tobacco abuse Overeating Lower academic/employment performance Illegal acts

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Intergenerational Transmission of Gambling Problems • Problem gambling fathers: 11 to 14 times more likely • Problem gambling mothers: 7 to 11 times more likely

Risk factors Protective factors • Gambling at a young age • Parental drug and mental health

problems • Personal drug use • Gambling to reduce negative

emotions or increase positive emotions

• Gambling to socialise • Expecting gambling will lead to

positive outcomes (e.g., feelings of control or financial gain

(Source: Dowling, Jackson, Thomas, & Frydenberg, 2010)

• Being female • Having higher social resources and

networks • Being born in Australia • Having more siblings • Expecting gambling will lead to

negative outcomes (e.g., depression or overinvolvement)

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Presenting Issues of Treatment-Seeking Family Members • Most common family impacts are:

• Impaired familial relationships • Emotional problems • Financial difficulties

Gambling Help Online family member clients

Emotional distress 98%

Impacts on their relationship with the gambler

96%

Impacts on their social life 92%

Impacts on their finances 91%

Impacts on their employment 84%

Impacts on their physical health 77% (Source: Dowling, Rodda, Lubman, & Jackson, 2014)

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

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Specific family impacts

Inability to trust gambler 63%

Anger 61%

Depression or sadness 59%

Anxiety 58%

Distress due to gambling-related absences

56%

Reduced quality time 52%

Breakdowns in communication

52%

(Source: Dowling, Suomi, Jackson, & Lavis, unpublished)

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HOW DO FAMILY MEMBERS COPE WITH GAMBLING PROBLEMS?

• Surprisingly little information • Stress-strain-coping-support

model (Orford, Copello, Velleman, & Templeton, 2010)

• The most common strategies family members use are engaging coping strategies (Dowling et al., unpublished; Krishnan & Orford, 2002)

• This form of coping is associated with reduced health and wellbeing

Stress-strain-coping-support model. Source: Orford, Copello, Velleman, & Templeton (2010)

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Coping Strategies Employed by Family Members Ineffective coping strategies Effective coping strategies • Nagging • Screaming • Constantly expressing disapproval • Threats • Ultimatums • Punishing • Rationalising • Emotional pleading • Financial assistance • Protective the image of the gambler • Bailing the gambler out of jail • Accompanying the gambler to

gamble • Asking the gambler to leave a venue • Providing referral information (Source: Markchuk, 2001)

• Setting boundaries/limits • Taking one day at a time • Going to church or finding

spirituality • Discovering new interests or

activities • Releasing guilt and responsibility • Recognising gambling as an

addiction • Gaining support • Taking financial control • Seeking professional assistance • Giving respect to the gambler • Making a conscious effort to stop

helping the gambler to gamble • Supporting the gambler in

treatment

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WHAT ARE THE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS?

Problem Gambling Significant Other Impact

Scale (PG-SOIS) The following questions may help you determine if someone

else's gambling is affecting you in some way. In the last three months, how often:

1. Have you or your family experienced financial hardship

as a result of the other person’s gambling? 2. Have you experienced feelings of sadness, anxiety,

stress or anger due to the other person’s gambling? 3. Has the quality of your relationship with the other

person been affected by his/her gambling? 4. Has your social life been affected by the other person’s

gambling? 5. Has your ability to work or study been affected by the

other person’s gambling? 6. Has your physical health been affected by the other

person’s gambling? Response format: (0) Not at all; (1) Rarely; (2) Sometimes; (3) Often (Source: Dowling, Rodda, Lubman, & Jackson, 2014)

Assessment Options • Approximately 20% of

Australian treatment-seekers are family members

• Few assessment tools • Problem Gambling Significant

Other Impact Scale (PG-SOIS: Dowling et al., 2014)

• Problem Gambling Family Impact Measure (PG-FIM: Dowling, Suomi, Jackson, & Lavis, unpublished)

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

Treatment Options • May prefer lower intensity interventions • Few treatment specifically designed to

assist family members • Community Reinforcement and Family Therapy

(CRAFT) (Hodgins, Toneatto, Makarchuk, & Vincent

• Coping Skills Training (Rychtarik & McGillicuddy, 2006)

• Several couple-oriented treatments available

• Family members in treatment can improve problem gambling outcomes (Ingle, Marotta, McMillan, & Wisdom, 2008)

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

KEY MESSAGES • The most common impacts for the family

members of problem gamblers relate to impaired familial relationships, emotional problems, and financial difficulties

• Family members are most likely to employ coping strategies that try to change the excessive gambling in emotional and controlling ways, which may, in turn, reduce their health and wellbeing

• Despite accessing gambling support services at high rates, there are few assessment tools and treatment approaches specifically designed for family members

Familial risk factors for problem gambling and young people

Ms. Sophie Vasiliadis Senior Research Officer

Australian Gambling Research Centre

Acknowledgements

This presentation includes unpublished findings from my PhD thesis, which is unfinished. I would like to acknowledge the support of my supervisors

Dr. Nicki Dowling and Prof. Alun Jackson.

The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and may not reflect the views of the Australian Institute of Family Studies or the Australian Government.

Impacts of problem gambling for children

Vulnerability to problem gambling among young people is higher in households where there is: Exposure to excessive gambling Positive emotional reinforcement for gambling Experience of early life stressors and trauma

Socialisation of gambling

Parents are the primary role models for young people

Parents normalise gambling by involving their children in gambling

“So I grew up thinking that having a bet on the races was very normal, that’s what you did on Saturday. That’s my upbringing.” (Saugeres, Thomas & Moore, 2014, p.137)

Strong positive emotions associated with gambling increases vulnerability (e.g. pride in gambling ‘skill’)

Socialisation of gambling

Gambling without negative consequences can be a strong risk factor

“…[my father] would cover my bets, I would never pay out of my own pocket. So it was always if I won I got the money but if I lost I never saw what would come out of my pocket…So I was always going to be set for a bad experience with gambling.” (Saugeres, Thomas & Moore, 2014, p.138)

Familial risk factors for problem gambling in young people

A range of familial factors are associated with problem gambling among young people, including Problem gambling Alcohol and drug abuse Avoidance coping styles Poor parental monitoring

Childhood trauma and problem gambling in young adulthood Survey of 17-22 year old Canadian students (Felsher,

Derevensky & Gupta, 2010)

Problem gamblers reported higher rates and severity of all forms of childhood trauma examined, compared to non gamblers, ‘at-risk’ and ‘social’ gamblers. Emotional abuse, Emotional neglect Physical abuse, Physical neglect

Neglect was the key risk factor for problem gambling

Childhood trauma and problem gambling in young adulthood U.S. study of adult problem gamblers in treatment

also reported association with parental neglect in childhood. (Grant & Kim, 2002)

Emotional neglect (low affection, nurture) and low protection (low monitoring, rules)

Impacts of familial dysfunction

Impacts of familial dysfunction are experienced by young people in a range of domains, including emotional strain psychosomatic conditions poor school performance behavioural problems legal problems

Case study: Bill*

Mother emotionally distant. Did not show affection. Father was admired, but had a drinking problem Age 11: moved to Australia from NZ Age 11/12: moved house and school Age 12: friend’s dad placed a bet for him on

Melbourne Cup

*Pseudonym

Case study: Bill*

Age 15: placing bets at TAB. Reading form guide ‘locked’ in his bedroom. Made Dad proud because a good NZ boy is good at drinking, rugby & punting. Arrested for stealing to fund his gambling. Dad cried.

Took him to Gambler’s Anonymous. Age 19: “Gambling was the love of my life” Age 25: In Pentridge jail, then homeless

Past year gambling participation among young people Adolescents

Approximately 60% to 70% gambled (Delfabbro et al., 2005; Dowling et al., 2010; Lambos, Delfabbro, Pulgies & DECS, 2007)

Young adults Approximately 65% to 85% gambled (ACER,

2011; Dowling et al., 2010)

Weekly participation by 18-25 year olds in Melbourne

Moderate–risk gamblers & Problem gamblers (n=120)

TAB 18% Professional Sports 13% Pokies – at a club 12% Cards at a house 12%

Internet & casino 10%

Source: YMEGS dataset (unpublished)

Problem gambling prevalence among young people in Australia

Problem gambling Approximately 3-4% of adolescents Approximately 3-6% of young adults Compared to approximately 1% of adults

Moderate-risk gambling Approximately 8-10% of adolescents Approximately 10-25% of young adults Compared to approximately 3% of adults

Signs and Pathways

Pathway 1 (Behaviourally conditioned) Sporty kids – involved in clubs Outer suburbs Friends who also gamble – Social motives Risk takers (not necessarily a risk factor) Access to money – working, family business etc

Signs and Pathways

Pathway 2 (Emotionally vulnerable) Fewer friends (if problem – secondary risk factor) Smoking, drinking, drugs, Poor coping skills Low connectedness – not alone but lonely Depression / Anxiety / Self-esteem Escape, coping motives

Signs and Pathways

Pathway 3 (Anti–social impulsivist) Smoking, drinking, drugs, sex, violence Family violence Familial gambling, drinking, drug use Impulsive and sensation seekers -> Risky behaviour Suspended or expelled Thrill, excitement motives

Conclusion

Family environment has a significant influence on young people’s vulnerability to problem gambling

Young people vulnerable to problem gambling are also vulnerable to range of other problems such as depression, impulsivity, drug and alcohol abuse, tobacco use, and social isolation.

Conclusion continued

Young people often do not present to health services for support with problem gambling

Professionals working with young people (e.g. health, social welfare, education) should screen for and address gambling issues with vulnerable young people

Questions