Gambling problem severity and psychiatric disorders among Hispanic and white adults: findings from a nationally representative sample.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To examine differences in the associations of gambling problem severity and psychiatric disorders among a nationally representative sample of Hispanic and white adults.

METHOD:

Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed on data obtained from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions from 31,830 adult respondents (13% Hispanic; 87% white), who were categorized according to three levels of gambling problem severity (i.e., no gambling or low-frequency gambling [NG], low-risk or at-risk gambling [LRG], problem or pathological gambling [PPG]).

RESULTS:

Hispanic respondents in comparison to white respondents were more likely to exhibit PPG. Problem gambling severity was associated with past-year Axis I and lifetime Axis II psychiatric disorders in both Hispanic and white respondents, with the largest odds typically observed in association with the most severe gambling pathology. A stronger relationship between subsyndromal gambling and a broad range of Axis I disorders (mood, anxiety and substance use disorders) and Axis II disorders (particularly cluster B) was observed in Hispanic respondents as compared to white ones.

CONCLUSIONS:

Levels of problem gambling severity are associated with the prevalence of Axis I and Axis II psychiatric disorders in both Hispanics and whites. Differences in the patterns of co-occurring disorders between subsyndromal levels of gambling in Hispanic and white respondents indicate the importance of considering ethnicity/race-related factors related to subthreshold levels of gambling in developing improved mental health prevention and treatment strategies.

• Authors: Declan T Barry, Elina A Stefanovics, Rani A Desai, Marc N Potenza
• Journal: Journal of psychiatric research (J Psychiatr Res) Vol. 45 Issue 3 Pg. 404-11 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 1879-1379 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20800852 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Ethnicity
• Gambling (epidemiology, psychology)
• Hispanic or Latino
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Mental Disorders (epidemiology, psychology)
• Prevalence
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• White People