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Problem gambling and gaming in elite athletes

Håkansson, A. LU ; Kenttä, G. and Åkesdotter, C. (2018) In Addictive Behaviors Reports 8. p.79-84
Abstract

Background: High-level sports have been described as a risk situation for mental health problems and substance misuse. This, however, has been sparsely studied for problem gambling, and it is unknown whether problem gaming, corresponding to the tentative diagnosis of internet gaming disorder, may be overrepresented in athletes. This study aimed to study the prevalence and correlates of problem gambling and problem gaming in national team-level athletes. Methods: A web-survey addressing national team-level athletes in university studies (survey participation 60%) was answered by 352 individuals (60% women, mean age 23.7), assessing mental health problems, including lifetime history of problem gambling (NODS-CLiP) and problem gaming... (More)

Background: High-level sports have been described as a risk situation for mental health problems and substance misuse. This, however, has been sparsely studied for problem gambling, and it is unknown whether problem gaming, corresponding to the tentative diagnosis of internet gaming disorder, may be overrepresented in athletes. This study aimed to study the prevalence and correlates of problem gambling and problem gaming in national team-level athletes. Methods: A web-survey addressing national team-level athletes in university studies (survey participation 60%) was answered by 352 individuals (60% women, mean age 23.7), assessing mental health problems, including lifetime history of problem gambling (NODS-CLiP) and problem gaming (GASA). Results: Lifetime prevalence of problem gambling was 7% (14% in males, 1% in females, p < 0.001), with no difference between team sports and other sports. Lifetime prevalence of problem gaming was 2% (4% in males and 1% in females, p = 0.06). Problem gambling and problem gaming were significantly associated (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Moderately elevated rates of problem gambling were demonstrated, however with large gender differences, and interestingly, with comparable prevalence in team sports and in other sports. Problem gaming did not seem more common than in the general population, but an association between problem gambling and problem gaming was demonstrated.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Gambling disorder, Internet gaming disorder, Pathological gambling, Problem gambling, Problem gaming, Sports medicine
in
Addictive Behaviors Reports
volume
8
pages
6 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:30140727
  • scopus:85051635039
ISSN
2352-8532
DOI
10.1016/j.abrep.2018.08.003
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a84e179e-e2ca-4aad-baf0-dde878dae62d
date added to LUP
2018-09-06 08:58:53
date last changed
2024-01-15 00:55:07
@article{a84e179e-e2ca-4aad-baf0-dde878dae62d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: High-level sports have been described as a risk situation for mental health problems and substance misuse. This, however, has been sparsely studied for problem gambling, and it is unknown whether problem gaming, corresponding to the tentative diagnosis of internet gaming disorder, may be overrepresented in athletes. This study aimed to study the prevalence and correlates of problem gambling and problem gaming in national team-level athletes. Methods: A web-survey addressing national team-level athletes in university studies (survey participation 60%) was answered by 352 individuals (60% women, mean age 23.7), assessing mental health problems, including lifetime history of problem gambling (NODS-CLiP) and problem gaming (GASA). Results: Lifetime prevalence of problem gambling was 7% (14% in males, 1% in females, p &lt; 0.001), with no difference between team sports and other sports. Lifetime prevalence of problem gaming was 2% (4% in males and 1% in females, p = 0.06). Problem gambling and problem gaming were significantly associated (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Moderately elevated rates of problem gambling were demonstrated, however with large gender differences, and interestingly, with comparable prevalence in team sports and in other sports. Problem gaming did not seem more common than in the general population, but an association between problem gambling and problem gaming was demonstrated.</p>}},
  author       = {{Håkansson, A. and Kenttä, G. and Åkesdotter, C.}},
  issn         = {{2352-8532}},
  keywords     = {{Gambling disorder; Internet gaming disorder; Pathological gambling; Problem gambling; Problem gaming; Sports medicine}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  pages        = {{79--84}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Addictive Behaviors Reports}},
  title        = {{Problem gambling and gaming in elite athletes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2018.08.003}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.abrep.2018.08.003}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}