A comparison of Depression and Styles of coping in male and female GA members and controls

Depression and maladaptive coping styles are important components of theories of pathological gambling and are frequently foci of treatment with individuals with gambling problems. The present study aimed to improve understanding and treatment of pathological gambling by comparing levels of depressi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of gambling studies 2000, Vol.16 (4), p.377-391
Main Authors: GETTY, Heather A, WATSON, Jeanne, FRISCH, G. Ron
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Antidepressants
Behavior disorders
Biological and medical sciences
Coping
Coping styles
Depression
Depression (Psychology)
Females
Gamblers Anonymous
Gambling
Gender
Gender differences
Medical sciences
Members
Mental depression
Michigan
Miscellaneous
Mood disorders
Ontario
Psychological tests
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Sex Differences
Skills
Studies
Women
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Summary:Depression and maladaptive coping styles are important components of theories of pathological gambling and are frequently foci of treatment with individuals with gambling problems. The present study aimed to improve understanding and treatment of pathological gambling by comparing levels of depression and styles of coping in male and female members of Gamblers Anonymous (GA) to a group of non-pathological gambling controls matched according to gender, age, education, and income. Pathological gambling was measured by the South Oaks Gambling Scale, depression by the Beck Depression Inventory, and coping styles by the Problem-Focused Styles of Coping inventory. Results showed that GA members reported significantly higher levels of depression and more maladaptive styles of coping than controls. Pathological gamblers' greater use of maladaptive coping was evident even when variance attributable to depression was removed, suggesting that their coping deficits may be pervasive. Female subjects reported significantly greater levels of depression and maladaptive coping than their male counterparts. Implications for treating depression and coping styles in pathological gamblers are discussed.
ISSN:1050-5350
1573-3602
DOI:10.1023/A:1009480106531