Gambling Self-Control Strategies: A Qualitative Analysis

Marie-Claire Flores-Pajot, Sara Atif, Magali Dufour, Natacha Brunelle, Shawn R. Currie, David C. Hodgins, Louise Nadeau and Matthew M. Young
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Marie-Claire Flores-Pajot: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7, Canada
Sara Atif: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7, Canada
Magali Dufour: Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
Natacha Brunelle: Département de Psychoéducation, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5H7, Canada
Shawn R. Currie: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
David C. Hodgins: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Louise Nadeau: Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada
Matthew M. Young: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: There is limited research exploring the perceptions of people who gamble on the self-control strategies used to limit their gambling. This qualitative study examines self-control strategies used to limit money spent gambling, frequency of gambling, and time spent gambling. A total of 56 people who gamble (27 males and 29 females) participated in nine focus groups and five individual interviews in Montreal, Calgary, and Toronto (Canada). Self-control strategies used to limit their gambling expenditure were more common than frequency or time limiting strategies. Strategies to limit expenditure included: restricting access to money; keeping track of money allocated to gambling activities; and avoiding certain types of gambling activities. Various contextual factors were identified to influence those strategies, including social influences; winning or losing; using substances. Findings from this study emphasize the importance of communicating clear gambling limits to people who gamble, as well as the value of developing individual self-control strategies to limit frequency, time and money spent gambling.

Keywords: gambling guidelines; qualitative; public health messaging; self-control strategies; substance use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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