What Are the Links Between Gambling, Depression, and Feelings of Escape During Play?

Interaction Between Pathological Gambling and Depression

Individuals exhibiting problem gambling behavior typically show more symptoms of depression than non-problem gamblers. Researchers have long studied whether chronic depression leads to gambling or whether difficulties associated with problem gambling—including personal and financial troubles—lead to the development of depressive disorders.

The coexistence of depression and pathological gambling is linked to higher rates of suicidality, significant cognitive impairment, and elevated stress levels. Among problem gamblers with comorbid depression, achieving stable abstinence takes longer than for gamblers without depression.

Study Design

The aim of the Australian study was to determine whether gambling as a form of escape and excitement might strengthen or weaken the relationship between depression and problem gambling. The study involved 282 adults who engaged in gambling of some form at least once a month. The average age of participants in the questionnaire survey was 54 years. In total, 35.4% worked full-time, 15.1% part-time, 34.5% were retired, 7.7% were homemakers, and 2.1% each were students and job seekers.

Based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), 8.8% of respondents were classified as problem gamblers, 15.8% as moderate risk, 20.4% as low risk, and 55.1% were considered non-risk gamblers. Depression was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).

The sense of escape and excitement was measured using the 18-item Gambling Outcome Expectancies Scale (GOES), which focuses on both the emotional and cognitive aspects of gambling as well as the excitement derived from it. The severity of problem gambling was evaluated by the PGSI index, which assessed gambling behavior over the past 12 months.

The Impact of Escape Tendencies

Symptoms of depression were reported by 33% of participants: 4.6% had mild depression, 16.3% moderate, 8.2% severe, and 3.9% very severe depression. No associations were found between gender and either depression or problem gambling severity.

The authors found that people with more severe depression—and those who expected excitement or escape from gambling—had greater difficulties with problem gambling. The effect of depression on gambling was insignificant when escape tendencies were low (i.e., when gambling was not used as an escape from depression). Conversely, when escape tendencies were stronger, the relationship between depression and gambling was more pronounced.

Coping With Negative Emotions

The findings are consistent with previous research on depression and the feelings of excitement or escape experienced during gambling. The study points to a positive correlation between the severity of depression, the expectation of escape, and the severity of gambling behavior.

Weaker expectations of escape during gambling are associated with lower severity of problem gambling, regardless of depression severity. Conversely, the relationship between depression and problem gambling is stronger when gambling is tied to a heightened expectation of escape.

The study thus suggests that the link between depression and problem gambling depends on how the player perceives gambling—as a way to cope with negative emotions. However, the authors note that their work did not differentiate between various forms of gambling and that the participants were drawn from the general population. For a more precise analysis of these relationships, further longitudinal studies are recommended.

Editorial Team, Medscope.pr

Source:

Vaughan E., Flack M. Depression Symptoms, Problem Gambling and the Role of Escape and Excitement Gambling Outcome Expectancies. J Gambl Stud 2022 Mar; 38 (1): 265–278, doi: 10.1007/s10899-021-10032-3.