Homelessness, negative affect, and coping among veterans with gambling problems who misused substances

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Pathological gambling is associated with negative affect and poor coping mechanisms.
• Formerly homeless veterans with substance use disorders represent a vulnerable population.
• Understanding co-occurring gambling problems in this group is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare negative affect, coping strategies, and life stability between formerly homeless veterans with and without gambling problems.
• To identify if gambling problems are linked to poorer mental health and life outcomes in this specific veteran cohort.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 154 formerly homeless veterans with substance misuse histories were assessed six months post-treatment.
• Participants were divided into two groups: those with a gambling problem (N=22) and those without.
• Standardized assessments were used to measure negative affect, coping abilities, housing stability, and employment status.

Main Results:

• Veterans with a gambling problem exhibited significantly higher levels of negative affect.
• The gambling problem group demonstrated poorer coping strategies compared to non-gamblers.
• No significant differences were found in housing or employment stability between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• Pathological gambling in formerly homeless veterans is strongly associated with heightened negative affect and deficient coping skills.
• Despite psychological challenges, gambling problems in this population do not appear to directly impact housing or employment stability six months post-treatment.
• Further research should explore targeted interventions for negative affect and coping in veterans with co-occurring gambling disorders.