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Men who gamble are more likely to act violently towards others, with the most addicted gamblers the most prone to serious violence, new research has shown.
A study published in the journal Addiction found that gambling in any capacity – pathological, problem, or so-called casual gambling – related to significantly increased risk of violence, including domestic abuse.
Researchers surveyed 3,025 men about whether they had ever engaged in violent behaviour, including if they had ever been in a physical fight, assaulted or deliberately hit anyone, if they had used a weapon, and whether the violence was perpetrated when they were drunk or on drugs. The survey also asked if they had ever hit a child, suffered from mental illness, whether they took regular medication, or exhibited impulsive behaviour.
The men surveyed – who came from a range of socio-economic backgrounds across the UK and varied in age – were also asked about whether they gambled. Eighty per cent of participants admitted to taking part in some sort of gambling activity during their lifetime.
The researchers found a statistically significant link between gambling and violent behaviour, which became starker the more severe the gambling habit. Just over half of pathological gamblers, 45 per cent of problem gamblers, and 28 per cent of ‘casual gamblers’ reported some form of physical fight in the past five years.
In contrast, among the non-gamblers, only 19 per cent reported being involved in violence.
Read more here. (PsyPost)
A study published in the journal Addiction found that gambling in any capacity – pathological, problem, or so-called casual gambling – related to significantly increased risk of violence, including domestic abuse.
Researchers surveyed 3,025 men about whether they had ever engaged in violent behaviour, including if they had ever been in a physical fight, assaulted or deliberately hit anyone, if they had used a weapon, and whether the violence was perpetrated when they were drunk or on drugs. The survey also asked if they had ever hit a child, suffered from mental illness, whether they took regular medication, or exhibited impulsive behaviour.
The men surveyed – who came from a range of socio-economic backgrounds across the UK and varied in age – were also asked about whether they gambled. Eighty per cent of participants admitted to taking part in some sort of gambling activity during their lifetime.
The researchers found a statistically significant link between gambling and violent behaviour, which became starker the more severe the gambling habit. Just over half of pathological gamblers, 45 per cent of problem gamblers, and 28 per cent of ‘casual gamblers’ reported some form of physical fight in the past five years.
In contrast, among the non-gamblers, only 19 per cent reported being involved in violence.
Read more here. (PsyPost)
