Authors:	Wejbera, Martin Wölfling, Klaus Dreier, Michael Michal, Matthias Brähler, Elmar Wiltink, Jörg Schulz, Andreas Wild, Philipp S. Münzel, Thomas König, Jochem Lackner, Karl Pfeiffer, Norbert Beutel, Manfred E.
Title:	Risk factors, physical and mental health burden of male and female pathological gamblers in the German general population aged 40–80
Online publication date:	20-Sep-2021
Year of first publication:	2021
Language:	english
Abstract:	BACKGROUND Gambling Disorder (GD) has been associated with considerable mental and physical health risks in clinical samples. The paper determines risk factors, mental and physical health burden of probable GD for both men and women in the general population. METHODS In the Gutenberg Health Study, a population-based sample of N = 11,875 aged 40–80 years was analyzed regarding lifetime probable GD prevalence (measured with the Lie/ Bet Questionnaire) and a wide array of health variables including standardized measures of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. RESULTS Probable GD lifetime prevalence was 2.1%, with higher rates among 1st generation migrants (5.5%; vs. non-migrants 1.6%), men (3.0%; vs. women 1.2%), and the sample’s youngest age decade (40–49 y., 3.1%). Lifetime probable GD was associated with current work-related, family and financial stressors as well as unhealthy behavior (smoking, extended screen time), and lifetime legal offenses. In men, but not in women, increased rates of imprisonment, mental and somatic symptoms were found. CONCLUSIONS GD is a major public health problem with serious social, mental and physical health burden. Epidemiological findings underscore the preponderance of GD among 1st generation migrants and men. Findings are consistent with a vicious cycle of family, work related and financial stress factors, and mental and physical burden, particularly in men. Demographic risk factors may help to target specific prevention and treatment efforts.
DDC:	610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences
Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department:	FB 04 Medizin
Place:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-6350
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License:	CC BY
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Journal:	BMC psychiatry 21
Pages or article number:	123
Publisher:	BioMed Central
Publisher place:	London
Issue date:	2021
ISSN:	1471-244X
Publisher URL:	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03110-8
Publisher DOI:	10.1186/s12888-021-03110-8
Appears in collections:	JGU-Publikationen