|
|
||||||||
a Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington
Correspondence: Nancy M. Petry, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3944. E-mail: petry{at}psychiatry.uchc.edu.
Decision Editor: Laurence G. Branch, PhD
Purpose: Pathological gambling is an increasing public health concern, but very little is known about this disorder in older adults. This study evaluated gambling and psychosocial problems across age groups in treatment-seeking gamblers. Design and Methods: At intake to gambling treatment programs, 343 pathological gamblers completed the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and gambling questionnaires. Participants were categorized by age into young adults (ages 1835 years; n = 97), middle-aged adults (ages 3655 years, n = 197), and older adults (aged older than 55 years, n = 49). Differences in demographics, gambling variables, and ASI composite scores were compared across the groups. Results: The middle- and older age gamblers were more likely to be female (45%55%) than were the younger gamblers (23%), but the groups were similar with respect to most other demographic variables. When controlled for gender, older age was associated with increased employment problems, but fewer social, legal, and substance-abuse difficulties. Compared with middle-aged gamblers, older gamblers wagered on fewer days. Age x Gender effects emerged in onset of gambling problems and amount spent gambling. Older women did not begin gambling regularly until an average age of 55 years, whereas older male gamblers generally reported a lifelong history of gambling. The older female gamblers also wagered the greatest amounts in the month prior to treat-ment entry. Implications: These data suggest that older adults compose a minority of treatment-seeking gamblers, but differences in psychosocial problems across the age groups may suggest the need for interventions tailored to particular issues encountered by older pathological gamblers. Specifically, treatments focusing on later life development of problems may be indicated for older female gamblers.
Key Words: Pathological gambling Older adults Gender Treatment
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
F. W. Preston, P. D. Shapiro, and J. R. Keene Successful Aging and Gambling: Predictors of Gambling Risk Among Older Adults in Las Vegas American Behavioral Scientist, September 1, 2007; 51(1): 102 - 121. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
|
R. H. Pietrzak, C. A. Molina, G. T. Ladd, G. J. Kerins, and N. M. Petry Health and Psychosocial Correlates of Disordered Gambling in Older Adults Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, June 1, 2005; 13(6): 510 - 519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
S. Levens, A.-M. Dyer, C. Zubritsky, K. Knott, and D. W. Oslin Gambling Among Older, Primary-Care Patients: An Important Public Health Concern Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, January 1, 2005; 13(1): 69 - 76. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
A. N. Burge, R. H. Pietrzak, C. A Molina, and N. M. Petry Age of Gambling Initiation and Severity of Gambling and Health Problems Among Older Adult Problem Gamblers Psychiatr Serv, December 1, 2004; 55(12): 1437 - 1439. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
R. A. Desai, P. K. Maciejewski, D. J. Dausey, B. J. Caldarone, and M. N. Potenza Health Correlates of Recreational Gambling in Older Adults Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2004; 161(9): 1672 - 1679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
J. E. Grant and R. Grosz Pharmacotherapy Outcome in Older Pathological Gamblers: A Preliminary Investigation J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, March 1, 2004; 17(1): 9 - 12. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
|
O. Kausch Pathological Gambling among Elderly Veterans J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, March 1, 2004; 17(1): 13 - 19. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
---|
All GSA journals | Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences | Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |