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Are Video Games a Gateway to Gambling? A Longitudinal Study Based on a Representative Norwegian Sample
Helge Molde1, Bjørn Holmøy2, Aleksander Garvik Merkesdal2
1Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. helge.molde@uib.no.
Journal of Gambling Studies
|June 6, 2018
Summary
Problematic video gaming may lead to problem gambling, according to a longitudinal study. This research found that gaming issues predict future gambling problems, but not vice versa, suggesting a gateway effect.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Digital Entertainment Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- The convergence of digital video gaming and online gambling presents a growing area of concern.
- Limited research exists on the relationship between problem gaming and problem gambling.
- Previous studies often rely on cross-sectional designs and non-representative samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the directional relationship between problem gaming and problem gambling.
- To control for the influence of sex and age in the gaming-gambling relationship.
- To establish if problem gaming acts as a precursor to problem gambling.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design over two years (2013, 2015).
- Inclusion of 4601 participants from a random general population sample (ages 16-74).
- Utilized autoregressive cross-lagged structural equation modeling with validated scales for gaming and gambling addiction.
Main Results:
- A significant positive relationship was found between problem gaming scores and subsequent problem gambling scores.
- No evidence of a reciprocal relationship was observed; problem gambling did not predict problem gaming.
- Problematic video gaming behavior appears to precede and potentially lead to problematic gambling behavior.
Conclusions:
- Problematic video gaming may serve as a gateway behavior to problematic gambling.
- Longitudinal data suggests a unidirectional influence from gaming problems to gambling problems.
- Further research is recommended to explore reciprocal influences and long-term behavioral patterns.
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