British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 secondary analysis: gambling co-morbidities and health
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This secondary analysis was commissioned by the Gambling
Commission and undertaken by Professor Mark Griffiths from
Nottingham Trent University, NatCen and Professor Jim Orford from
University of Birmingham. This analysis used data from the
British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 to study the
relationship between gambling and general health status, cigarette
smoking and alcohol consumption.
The full report can be found at:
Gambling, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and health:
findings from BGPS 2007- March 2009
Key findings
A range of questions relating to smoking, alcohol consumption
and general health status were included within the BGPS
2007. The hypothesis of this analysis was that there may be
lifestyle clusters of behaviour that co-occur and that potentially
addictive behaviours have some overlaps.
The results showed that:
Cigarette smokers were more likely than non-smokers to gamble in
both the past week and past year. Smokers were also over
three times more likely than non smokers to be problem
gamblers.
Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with having
gambled in both the past week and past year. Alcohol
consumption as measured by the number of units drank on the
heaviest drinking day in the last week was significantly associated
with problem gambling.
Health status was not associated with either past week or past
year gambling. Those with poor health were over three times
as likely to be a problem gambler compared to those in good
health.
The authors suggest that there is an increasing need for
education and training amongst the health profession in the
diagnosis, appropriate referral and effective treatment of gambling
problems.
Page last reviewed: June
2012