The developmental path to gambling disorder among U.S. veterans: a life-course perspective

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Gambling disorder (GD) is a significant issue characterized by persistent gambling, distress, and functional impairment.
• U.S. veterans are a vulnerable population for GD due to trauma and life stressors.
• Understanding the unique risk factors for GD in veterans is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify unique risk factors contributing to the development and persistence of gambling disorder (GD) in U.S. military veterans and service members.
• To explore the interplay of individual, environmental, and experiential factors across different life stages.
• To apply the Pathways Model of Problem and Pathological Gambling to understand veteran GD.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative secondary analysis of interviews with 28 U.S. service members and veterans.
• Utilized semi-structured interviews assessing GD diagnostic criteria.
• Employed a theory-informed approach using the Pathways Model and a combination of deductive and inductive content analysis.

Main Results:

• Three life-period themes emerged: childhood vulnerability, military service as a multidimensional risk, and increased gambling in post-military life.
• Findings align with the emotional vulnerability subtype of the Pathways Model.
• GD pathways are shaped by the dynamic interplay of individual vulnerability and socio-cultural/environmental contexts across life stages.

Conclusions:

• A life-course perspective integrated with the Pathways Model highlights how transitions can reinforce maladaptive gambling patterns in veterans.
• Individual vulnerability and environmental context dynamically shape GD trajectories throughout veterans' lives.
• Future research should incorporate a life-course perspective into the Pathways Model for problem gambling studies.