Prevalence of gambling problems, help-seeking, and relationships with trauma in veterans

• Published in: PloS one 2022-05, Vol.17 (5), p.e0268346-e0268346
• Main Authors: Metcalf, Olivia, Lawrence-Wood, Ellie, Baur, Jenelle, Van Hooff, Miranda, Forbes, David, O'Donnell, Meaghan, Sadler, Nicole, Hodson, Stephanie, Benassi, Helen, Varker, Tracey, Battersby, Malcolm, McFarlane, Alexander C, Cowlishaw, Sean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Armed forces; Arousal; Biology and Life Sciences; Bivariate analysis; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Gambling; Health problems; Health risks; Help seeking behavior; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental health; Military; Military personnel; Military service; Population studies; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Psychological aspects; Psychological stress; Psychopathology; Questionnaires; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Signs and symptoms; Social Sciences; Surveys; Trauma; Veterans
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268346

Veterans who have recently left the military (i.e., transitioned) may be vulnerable to the development of psychiatric disorders, but little is known about gambling problems in this population. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of gambling problems, help-seeking amongst veterans with gambling problems, and relationships with trauma and posttraumatic psychopathology. Cross-sectional self-report survey data from 3,511 Australian Defence Force members who left the military within the past five years. Surveys included measures of gambling problems (PGSI); depressive symptoms (PHQ-9); posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL-5); help-seeking behaviours; military and non-military-related trauma. Prevalence rates for problem gambling (PGSI ≥ 5) were 4.6%, while an additional 8.8% were classified in terms of at-risk gambling (PGSI = 1-4). Time since leaving the military was not associated with gambling problems. Only 2.1% of veterans with problem gambling reported help-seeking for their gambling. While trauma exposure, depression, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were all related to gambling problems at the bivariate level, only arousal and dysphoric-related affect were uniquely associated with gambling problems when adjusting for covariates. Gambling problems may be under-recognised relative to other psychiatric issues. Posttraumatic mental health problems, rather than trauma exposure per se, may explain the relationship between trauma and gambling problems. Some veterans are in a period of vulnerability during transition out of military service, and harms associated with gambling problems may be exacerbated during this period.