Search

Children living with a problem gambling parent are at risk of harm but no previous systematic reviews have specifically focused on the relationship of parental problem gambling and child wellbeing outcomes. The current review aimed to redress this gap by reviewing all available empirical evidence on parental problem gambling and child wellbeing.Articles were identified by searching PsychINFO, CINAHL, Medline and Scopus. The search included terminology pertaining to parents, problem gambling and children and we included all peer-reviewed articles that reported parental problem gambling and child wellbeing outcome(s).Overall, 35 studies reporting a relationship between parental problem gambling and child wellbeing were included. Child wellbeing outcomes were reported across six domains: (1) psychological (k = 14); (2) family relationships (k = 17); (3) violence (k = 9); (4) behavioural (k = 7); (5) financial (k = 9); and (6) physical health (k = 3). The included studies were mostly unequivocal about negative impacts of parental problem gambling across the six domains. Sixteen studies provided evidence of negative child outcomes that were directly attributed to parental problem gambling (e.g., as a result of your parent's problematic gambling, you felt depressed). Nineteen studies reported evidence of the association of child negative outcomes and parental problem gambling but child outcomes were not directly attributed to parental problem gambling (e.g., parent is a problem gambler, child is depressed). Evidence was particularly robust on child distress and family dysfunction directly attributed to parental problem gambling.This is the first systematic review focusing exclusively on specific intra- and interpersonal problems experienced by children whose parents have a gambling problem.

Hairdressing is one of the few non-health professional occupations where workers physically interact with clients, who are often comfortable in confiding private information to them. Despite this, relatively little is known about how hairdressers understand and experience this role as informal confidants. This study aimed to address this using an in-depth qualitative approach to capture what hairdressers are hearing from clients, and how hairdressers respond and feel about supporting clients. Participant led interviews with prompt questions were conducted in South Australia in 2019, transcribed and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Results indicate clients disclose information about family, health, identity, mental health and women's health. Important themes generated in relation to the role of hairdressers included: their need to have a client focus; blurring role boundaries; behaving like a therapist and, providing a place of safety and advice, while also maintaining confidentiality. Hairdressers reported feeling undervalued, emotionally drained, and in need of support in their role, but conversely, also reported having good job satisfaction. Further research is needed to examine whether hairdresser-client interactions may promote better mental and physical health outcomes for clients due to psychological buffering arising from the social support provided by hairdressers, as well as the impact on hairdressers and implications for their training.

Stay-at-home mandates and quarantines related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have led to greatly increased participation in online gaming. Initiatives such as #PlayApartTogether that promote gaming for socializing and stress reduction may achieve positive outcomes. Although gaming can be a healthy coping strategy for the majority, it can also pose risks to some vulnerable individuals. Protracted periods of social isolation and technology-based activity pose the danger of solidifying unhealthy lifestyle patterns, leading to difficulties to readaptation when the COVID-19 crisis has passed. Balanced and effective approaches to gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic are needed to support physical and psychological wellbeing.

People who commit sexual offences are a heterogeneous group, with research suggesting that children and young people commit a large proportion of all sex offences, especially those committed agains...

This paper examines the significance of recent developments in research relating to gambling-related harm. Previous research, it is argued, has failed to capture gambling-harm in a way that is useful to inform public policy and regulation. This is because most standardised psychometric measures and the DSM classifications have conflated gambling behaviour and harm and mostly focused on serious harms. As a result, little has generally been known about the prevalence of harm in lower risk gambling groups. Here we summarise the findings from recent harm research, the methodologies used and their conceptual implications. It is argued that strong progress has been made in the categorization and measurement of gambling harm, but that caution must be applied when applying these measures to estimate the 'burden of disease' associated with gambling in the community. Particular issues discussed include: the differentiation of opportunity cost and harm; the validity of additive methods involving different severities of measured harm; using comparisons with unfamiliar disorders; and the validity of prevention paradox arguments in this area of research.

Background and Aims Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with psychosocial issues which reduce quality of life and impair medical management. However, these issues are rarely addressed in routine care. A model of integrated psychological screening and intervention was trialled to measure prevalence, patient participation, and potential benefits to mental health and/or quality of life. Methods During a 12-month period, 490 adult patients at an established hospital-based service were approached to complete screening instruments for anxiety, depression, general distress, quality of life and medication adherence. Disease-specific and demographic data were also collected. Patients who scored highly on screening questionnaires were offered psychological intervention (in-service or externally referred). Participants were reassessed after 12 months. Results Psychological screening was well accepted with 68% (N = 335) participating. Psychological care was ‘needed’, with 55% (N = 183) scoring highly for anxiety, depression and/or general distress. Half of those ‘in need’ (N = 91) accepted intervention. In those who accepted, levels of anxiety (mean at intake [M1] = 12.11 vs mean at follow-up [M2] = 9.59, p < 0.001), depression (M1 = 8.38 vs M2 = 6.42, p < 0.001), general distress (M1 = 17.99 vs M2 = 13.96, p < 0.001), mental health quality of life (M1 = 54.64 vs M2 = 59.70, p < 0.001) and overall quality of life (M1 = 57.60 vs M2 = 64.10, p < 0.001) each improved between intake and follow-up. Engagement in psychological intervention was six times greater for those treated in-service vs externally referred (χ2[1] = 13.06, p < 0.001, odds ratio = 6.47). Conclusions Mental health issues are highly prevalent in people with inflammatory bowel disease. Patients are open to psychological screening and treatment. Psychological care can improve patient mental health and quality of life, and works best when integrated into routine management.

Children who enter care are frequently from families who are disadvantaged economically, socially and emotionally. Such disadvantage often co-exists with other risk factors including a history of abuse as well as socio-cultural differences such as being from minority of an Indigenous background where there can be additional issues such as social marginalisation or prejudice. Care systems can often compound these problems by exposing children to further loss and disruption or unstable placements, and often struggle in returning children home to parents experiencing a high burden of disadvantage and significant poverty. In this paper, we report the findings of an Australian study that examined longitudinal data on reasons for entry to care, trajectories in care and patterns of reunification and associated factors. Case-file reviews and placement tracking analyses were conducted for 502 children to identify predictors of reunification. Analytical techniques included cluster analysis, survival and proportional hazards models to examine the reunification trajectories of different groups of children and families. Most reunifications were found to occur within 12 months. Poverty in the form of financial problems and homelessness emerged as predictors of a lower probability of reunification status along with Indigenous status and family structure. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of policies and practices that could influence the child, family and environmental characteristics associated with entry to care and reunification.

Adolescents in out-of-home care generally have poor prospects for reunification with their birth families. However, for some adolescents in care, with deliberate support and intervention, there may opportunities for successful reunification. The Adolescent Reunification Program (ARP) is an Australian program designed to assist young people aged 12–17 years return home to their families. The program focuses on supporting families, mentoring young people so as to meet their developmental and educational needs, and providing a safe home environment. It also included an innovative therapeutic component which focused on addressing the consequences of intergenerational trauma in order to help repair relationships between parents and children. The purpose of this paper is to describe the therapeutic component of the program and to examine the potential value of therapy in a family reunification context with a particular focus on client receptivity and preliminary evidence on outcomes. Using case illustrations, this paper describes the therapeutic component of the ARP and provides a preliminary evaluation of these components using a mixed methods approach, including standardised psychological assessments, qualitative interviews with parents and young people, and reflections from the program workers. The therapeutic component of the ARP may have helped to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma by bringing focus to the interrelationships between how people feel and how they act. This was done through the work of therapists attempting to combine non-judgmental exploration and positive therapeutic framing with practical support within the context of the environment where the family reunification occurred. Therapy in conjunction with practical supports within a multidisciplinary collaborative approach may help to facilitate better outcomes for reunification when working with complex families.

This systematic review synthesized current knowledge about the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among young people known to have offended and examined evidence of associations between ACEs, trauma symptoms, and offending behavior. A systematic search of English-language, peer-reviewed studies published from the year 2000 onwards was conducted. A final pool of 124 studies that reported quantitative data were included in the review. The Cambridge Quality Checklist for the assessment of studies on offending was used to assess methodological quality of included studies. Pooled data indicated that almost 87% of justice-involved young people across 13 countries experienced at least one traumatic event. The odds of experiencing at least one ACE were over 12 times greater for justice-involved young people compared with nonjustice-involved young people. Prevalence of individual ACEs ranged from 12.2% for childhood sexual abuse to 80.4% for parental separation among justice-involved young people. Those who reported both a higher number and multiple types of ACEs were more likely to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress symptoms. However, when considering only high-quality studies, there was minimal evidence to suggest that a higher incidence of ACEs predicted trauma symptoms or that trauma symptoms mediated the association between ACEs and offending behavior. Further research is needed to elucidate factors that differentiate young people exposed to ACEs who go on to offend from those who do not. This research is essential to understanding whether ACEs and trauma are drivers of offending behavior and for informing prevention and intervention strategies.

Some forms of speculative trading share similarities with gambling. Decisions are often based on limited information, short-term motives for gain, and highly volatile and uncertain outcomes. Given these similarities, there is evidence to show that people who are attracted to gambling are also statistically more likely to engage in higher risk speculation such as day-trading of stocks and crypto-currency trading. In this study, involving 543 people (M = 388, F = 155, 85% aged 18–40 years) who reported at least monthly sports-betting, crypto-currency trading or both, we examined whether gambling and problem gambling were reliable predictors of the reported intensity of crypto-currency trading. The results showed that gambling and problem gambling rates were highest among those who reported both activities and that problem gambling scores (PGSI) and engaging in stock trading was significantly related to measures of crypto-currency trading intensity as based on the time spent per day, number of trades and level of expenditure. Future research should examine whether gambling history and involvement influences how people manage their investments in crypto-currencies, including their propensity for making riskier decisions and experiencing more negative outcomes.

Scratch cards (SCs) or tickets are lottery-based games which are played by scratching to reveal numbers, letters or symbols to win prizes. Such activities have sometimes been likened to paper-based slot-machines, but relatively little systematic analyses have been conducted to examine the risk or harm associated with these activities. In this paper, we provide a narrative review of the peer-reviewed literature relating to the potential association between SCs and problem gambling and what is known from publically available data sources (e.g., prevalence studies and treatment data). Evidence is analysed within the context of the Bradford Hill Criteria. Both prevalence and peer reviewed literature suggest that SCs are less strongly associated with problem gambling than most other gambling activities. We argue that this difference is due to the nature of the products. SC gambling differs from slot-machine gambling in a number of structural ways; it is less continuous; has a slower event frequency; and, emerging literature suggests that near-miss design features are unlikely to have a significant impact upon behaviour. Thus, in our view, and based on the empirical evidence, it appears that earlier parallels between SCs and slot-machines now appear more tenuous. Nevertheless, we encourage further investigation into the potential impact of new and emerging online lottery products because of the more immersive, faster and more technology-based nature of these products.

Background and aimsCrypto-currency trading is a rapidly growing form of behaviour characterised by investing in highly volatile digital assets based largely on blockchain technology. In this paper, we review the particular structural characteristics of this activity and its potential to give rise to excessive or harmful behaviour including over-spending and compulsive checking. We note that there are some similarities between online sports betting and day trading, but also several important differences. These include the continuous 24-hour availability of trading, the global nature of the market, and the strong role of social media, social influence and non-balance sheet related events as determinants of price movements.MethodsWe review the specific psychological mechanisms that we propose to be particular risk factors for excessive crypto trading, including: over-estimations of the role of knowledge or skill, the fear of missing out (FOMO), preoccupation, and anticipated regret. The paper examines potential protective and educational strategies that might be used to prevent harm to inexperienced investors when this new activity expands to attract a greater percentage of retail or community investors.Discussion and conclusionsThe paper suggests the need for more specific research into the psychological effects of regular trading, individual differences and the nature of decision-making that protects people from harm, while allowing them to benefit from developments in blockchain technology and crypto-currency.

Recognition of the role of structural characteristics and their potential association with gambling harm has led to the development of protocols to assess the risk of gambling products. Such tools rate products on a range of ‘risk criteria’ and assign classifications that might be used to inform product design or regulatory decision-making. One of published examples of these tools is ASTERIG which assigns ratings of lowest to highest to products based on 10 criteria that include, for example: event frequency, accessibility or scale of jackpot. In this paper, we provide a critical review of this protocol and identify five principal limitations that may limit its validity and reliability. These relate to the validity of some criteria as indicators of risk; definitional issues; scoring and calibration; problems arising from collinearity or duplication; and, the omission of important criteria such as cost of play. In this paper, we highlight the challenges associated with rating product risk using ASTERIG as an example. We argue that further refinement of risk assessment tools requires the development of more rigorous conceptual frameworks both in design and application as well greater validation of risk classifications against independent data relating to the links between products and gambling-related harm.RésuméLa reconnaissance du rôle des caractéristiques structurelles et de leur association potentielle avec les maux liés aux jeux de hasard a entraîné l’élaboration de protocoles visant à évaluer le risque des produits de jeu. De tels outils évaluent les produits sur une échelle de « critères de risque » et leur classement peut servir à orienter la conception de produits ou la prise de décisions réglementaires. L’un des exemples de ces outils est ASTERIG, qui attribue aux produits une cote, de la plus basse à la plus élevée, à l’aide de dix critères, notamment la fréquence de l’événement, l’accessibilité au gros lot ou la taille de ce dernier. Nous présentons dans cet article un examen critique de ce protocole et nous cernons cinq grandes limites pouvant restreindre sa validité et sa fiabilité. Ces limites concernent la validité de certains critères en tant qu’indicateurs de risque, des questions définitionnelles, le pointage et l’étalonnage, les problèmes issus de la colinéarité ou du double compte, et l’omission de critères importants comme le coût du jeu. Nous mettons en évidence dans cet article les enjeux liés à l’évaluation du risque d’un produit à l’aide d’ASTERIG par exemple. Nous soutenons que le peaufinage des outils d’évaluation du risque nécessite la mise sur pied d’un cadre conceptuel plus rigoureux, tant sur le plan de la conception que de l’application, ainsi qu’une plus grande validation des catégories de risque par rapport à des données indépendantes sur les liens entre les produits et les maux associés aux jeux de hasard.

Public attitudes toward gambling have important implications for people’s engagement in the activity and receptivity to regulatory reforms. Such views are likely, however, to be influenced by variations in market conditions, perceptions of regulations and personal exposure to gambling. This article examines whether differences in gambling attitudes are related to differences in the perceived social, cognitive, and physical accessibility of gambling in four countries (Australia, Israel, Croatia and Canada). These countries were selected because they cover a range of gambling regulations, from established liberalized markets (Australia, Canada), to a recently liberalized market (Croatia) to a relatively restricted market (Israel). University student respondents (n = 1787, aged 18–30) were surveyed in these four countries to control for educational differences. Within- gender analyses controlled for differences in gender profile across countries. More positive attitudes were associated with greater social accessibility and more stringent regulations. Australian and Canadian respondents reported more positive attitudes toward gambling and regulations. Israeli respondents reported less positive attitudes and exposure to problem gambling. Croatian respondents reported more positive attitudes, but considered gambling to be poorly regulated and overly available. Overall, attitudes were related to perceptions of regulation as well as the duration of exposure to liberalized markets.

The aim of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of the types of therapeutic programs and approaches that are used to assist these families. The term ‘therapeutic’ refers to interventions which try to address the presence of conditions that are harmful for child wellbeing, their families and those who work with them. Such approaches generally try to encourage healthier psychological and social functioning in children, while also helping to foster the development of skills in parents that enhance parental ability to have productive and healthy interactions with their children. Although interventions of this nature are highly diverse and cannot be fully encapsulated in this brief chapter, the aim is to provide an indicative summary of some of the most empirically supported methods often advanced to address the most common problems faced by children and their families in the CP system. To this end, four principal areas of need are considered: (a) Behavioural problems: how to deal with externalised or conduct-related issues; (b) Resilience: building social competency and resilience in children; (c) Early developmental harm: dealing with trauma and attachment-related problems, particularly in out-of-home care and (d) Parenting: building parental skills and enhancing family functioning.

Previous studies have down that erroneous Conspiracy Theory (CT) beliefs develop more strongly in people who have underlying conspiratorial reasoning styles and psychopathological traits and particularly when they are faced with stressful external events (Swami et al., 2013; van Prooijen, 2018). In this study, we test this proposition by examining the individual differences associated with the development of COVID-19-related CT beliefs during the pandemic. A total of 660 adults completed a survey that captured COVID-related CT beliefs and broader conspiracy beliefs, education, perceived stress and attitudes towards government responses. The results showed that COVID-19 related CT beliefs were: strongly related to broader CT beliefs, higher in those with lower levels of education; and, positively (although weakly) correlated with more negative attitudes towards government responses. However, no relationship was found between COVID-19 beliefs and self-reported stress. These findings hold implications for why some people are more likely to be resistant to public health interventions relating to COVID-19. The findings encourage more detailed exploration of the causes and sources of CTs and, in particular, the role of social media use and other information sources in the development and perpetuation of health-related CT beliefs.

Background: Gaming disorder was included in the latest revision of the International Classification of Diseases (11th ed.). Worldwide, prevalence estimates of gaming disorder are considerably heterogeneous and often appear to be exceedingly high. However, few studies have examined the methodological, cultural and/or demographic factors that might explain this phenomenon. This review employed meta-analytic techniques to compute the worldwide-pooled prevalence of gaming disorder and evaluate the potential contributing factors for varied prevalence estimates. Method: Prevalence estimates were extracted from 53 studies conducted between 2009 and 2019, which included 226,247 participants across 17 different countries. Study findings were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model. Subgroup and moderator analyses examined potential sources of heterogeneity, including assessment tool and cut-off, participant age and gender, sample size and type, study region, and year of data collection. Results: The worldwide prevalence of gaming disorder was 3.05% (confidence interval: [2.38, 3.91]); this figure was adjusted to 1.96% [0.19, 17.12] when considering only studies that met more stringent sampling criteria (e.g. stratified random sampling). However, these estimates were associated with significant variability. The choice of screening tool accounted for 77% of the variance, with the Lemmens Internet gaming disorder-9, Gaming Addiction Identification Test and Problematic Videogame Playing scales associated with the highest estimates. Adolescent samples, lower cut-off scores and smaller sample size were significant predictors of higher prevalence. Gaming disorder rates were approximately 2.5:1 in favor of males compared to females. Conclusion: The worldwide prevalence of gaming disorder appears to be comparable to obsessive-compulsive disorder and some substance-related addictions, but lower than compulsive buying and higher than problem gambling. Gaming disorder prevalence rates appear to be inflated by methodological characteristics, particularly measurement and sampling issues.

Internet use and gaming technologies may, under certain conditions, be associated with clinically significant harm across multiple domains of functioning. However, relatively little is known about the natural history of these problems, including their etiology, symptom trajectory, and risk factors. The aim of this chapter is to summarize and discuss some of the literature on the natural course of Internet-related disorders, with a focus on gaming disorder, and to highlight potentially useful areas for further investigation. The chapter is organized into two main sections which provide summaries of qualitative and quantitative research. It is shown that qualitative evidence is relatively limited in scope. Case reports suggest that problematic Internet and gaming behaviors can have a rapid onset that often arises in the context of busy and unfulfilled lives, particularly among individuals with preexisting psychological issues (e.g., depression, anxiety). The quantitative evidence is more developed and growing. Most studies have focused on adolescence. Studies suggest that social factors such as family life and parent–child relationships play a strong role in the development of persistent behaviors (e.g., gaming to escape from parental conflict). Preexisting poorer social skills, attention issues, and neurotic personality type are risk factors. Overall, the evidence suggests that many individuals, representing a diverse range of social background and psychological vulnerabilities, report long-term problems with Internet and gaming activities. Future research is needed to gain better understanding of these problems to assist affected individuals and their families.

Aims This study aimed to examine perceived social norms, the effect of parental drinking on these norms, alcohol use in front of children, and how norms and consumption vary based on child age and gender of the parent. Methods A cross-sectional online panel survey was undertaken with n = 1000 Australian adults (including 670 parents) aged 18–59 years. The survey assessed: alcohol consumption in front of children; normative attitudes towards drinking in the presence of children; and perceived social norms. Results Overall, 33.9% of parents reported drinking a glass of alcohol each day or a couple of times a week, 18.2% reported getting slightly drunk and 7.8% indicated getting visibly drunk each day or a couple of times a week with their children present. In total, 37.5% reported drinking in front of their children at least weekly. Fathers were more likely to drink in front of children than mothers. Most parents deemed drinking small amounts of alcohol in front of children as acceptable but did not accept drunkenness. Respondents were less concerned about a father drinking one or two drinks in front of their children than a mother. Social expectations were not related to child age, but norms related to others’ perceived behaviour were. Conclusions Many parents, particularly fathers consume alcohol in front of their children. There is a need to target health promotion strategies to adults and parents consuming in excess of health guidelines, and to the many parents who are consuming alcohol at higher levels in front of their children.

Highlights • Survey of 993 gamers to study avatar identification, self-concept clarity, and problem gaming. • Avatar identification scores did not differ greatly according to avatar features or game type. • Wishful identification was the only significant avatar identification predictor of problem gaming. • Avatar identification was related to higher problem gaming scores and poorer self-concept clarity. • Significant indirect effect of avatar identification on problem gaming through self-concept clarity., Some video-gaming activities feature customizable avatars that enable users to fulfil self-identity needs. Research evidence (e.g., fMRI and survey studies) has suggested that poorer self-concept and stronger avatar identification are associated with problematic gaming. Player-avatar relationships have thus been proposed to require attention in gaming disorder assessment and interventions. To examine the interplay of player-avatar interactions in problematic gaming, this study investigated whether avatar identification differed according to avatar characteristics and game types, and whether the association between avatar identification and problem gaming was mediated by self-concept clarity. A total of 993 adult respondents completed an online survey that assessed problematic gaming, avatar identification, and self-concept clarity. The results indicated that avatar identification scores were generally unrelated to avatar characteristics (e.g., human resemblance, degree of customizability, and in-game perspective). Avatar identification was significantly positively related to problematic gaming and significantly negatively related to self-concept clarity. There was a significant indirect relationship between avatar identification on problem gaming mediated through self-concept clarity. These findings suggest that poorer self-concept clarity may be one mechanism by which avatar identification affects problem gaming. Future research with clinical samples may help to gain a better understanding of avatar-related processes and psychological vulnerabilities related to problematic gaming.

Background and aimsLoyalty programs are implemented widely by gambling operators to provide customers with additional prizes and benefits for consistent patronage. The aim of this paper was to examine whether loyalty programs were more commonly reported by higher risk gamblers in large population studies conducted in Australia.MethodThis paper examines the prevalence of loyalty program use and the association with problem gambling in Australia using data from seven out of 13 public gambling prevalence surveys conducted over the last decade.ResultsEvidence drawn from six of these seven studies showed consistent positive association between loyalty card use and higher risk gambling in venue-based gamblers. At least 40% of problem gamblers reported loyalty card use compared with only around 10% of gamblers in general.DiscussionThese observations suggest that there is a need to conduct more focused investigations on the utilisation of loyalty programs by higher risk gamblers.ConclusionsIt will be important to examine whether loyalty programs encourage or extend gambling sessions, but also how they can be used to facilitate responsible gambling initiatives and inform further behavioural research.

Although it is often assumed that electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are associated with the highest level of risk, it has proved difficult to find reliable evidence in support of this proposition. In this paper, we analysed statistics from major Australian community prevalence studies for the period 2011-2020 to investigate whether EGMs (in comparison to racing and casino table games) have a stronger association with problem gambling. All prevalence studies reviewed used telephone sampling and the Problem Gambling Severity Index to assess problem gambling. In this paper, we examine the principal hypothesis using several lines of evidence, including whether problem gamblers are more likely to gamble and gamble regularly on EGMs as opposed to racing and casino games and if the EGM-problem gambling association was maintained after controlling for other forms of participation. Results showed that of all gambling activities, EGMs do appear to have the strongest association with problem gambling. Despite having a disproportionately higher level of participation on racing and casino games as compared with other gamblers, problem gamblers are more likely to report regular or weekly participation in EGM gambling and this may be the reason why this activity emerges most strongly as a predictor of problem gambling in multivariate models. This finding is particularly salient, given the very high prevalence of EGM participation, compared to other risky gambling forms. The findings underscore the importance of survey reporting that presents results in a form that can inform policy relevant research relating to the potential impact of different gambling activities.

BackgroundEngagement in responsible or ‘positive play’ strategies is known to be negatively associated with problem gambling, as indexed by measures such as the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Less is known about whether positive play is associated with reduced harm or a greater ability to enjoy the recreational benefits of gambling.AimsThis study investigated the relationship between positive play and gambling harm after controlling for PGSI scores and whether positive play moderated the relationship between PGSI scores and harm. It also examined whether positive play was related to perceived benefits associated with gambling.MethodsThe study utilised an online panel sample of 554 respondents who completed a survey that included the PGSI, measures of gambling harm drawn from Browne et al. (2016), and the newly developed Positive Play Scale (Wood et al., 2019). The study involved predominantly monthly gamblers with higher levels of gambling risk: 23% problem gamblers; 36% moderate risk; and 21% low risk gamblers.ResultsThe results indicated that positive play was negatively associated with reduced gambling harm. The behavioural Positive Play subscales relating to pre-commitment and honesty and control explained additional variation in harm after controlling for PGSI scores. Higher levels of positive play also moderated and reduced the relationship between the PGSI and gambling harm. Perceived benefits were, unexpectedly, found to be higher in problem gamblers and negatively related to positive play.ConclusionBehavioural measures of positive play appear to be useful moderating factors in understanding the relationship between problem gambling and harm. Higher-risk gamblers appear to experience both greater costs as well as benefits from gambling, which likely reflects a stronger personal need to engage in the activity.

This chapter provides an introduction to gaming disorder (GD), also known as ‘video game addiction’, which is an acquired addictive disorder officially recognized in the ICD-11. Gaming disorder is also listed as a condition for further study in the DSM-5. Gaming disorder refers to persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour, characterized by impaired control, that generates significant harms or distress for a period of at least 12 months. While GD is a relatively new disorder and has been a subject of controversy, there is a growing global evidence base on this condition, particularly in relation to its occurrence among younger populations. This chapter will provide research-based summaries on a range of topics, including descriptions of problematic gaming, classification of gaming disorder, epidemiological research on GD, the aetiology of GD and its common comorbidities, risk and protective factors, and evidence-based strategies for prevention and treatment.

Cybersecurity training and awareness programs can act to exacerbate rather than improve the cybersecurity threat posed by naive and non-malicious actions of employees [1, 2]. Employees report being unable to keep up with cybersecurity demands while also managing their core workload [1]. Cyber Fatigue is a weariness, aversion, or lack of motivation regarding cybersecurity [3]. It manifests due to overexposure to cybersecurity and a lack of available cognitive or workplace resources to cope with its demands. The current study examined the effect of non-attitudinal fatigue, which results from repetitive cybersecurity actions, on password-creation behaviour. Data collection involved an online experimental task and a set of standardised and adapted psychometric measures. Based on previous research [4, 5], cyber fatigue was induced in the two experimental conditions using a CAPTCHA task. The study was completed by 187 (97 male, 90 female) employed adult participants. However, we found no significant relationship between depletion and password creation behaviours. Our findings have important practical implications for interventions and provides insight for training aimed at improving employee behaviour.

The inclusion of gaming disorder (GD) as an official diagnosis in the ICD-11 was a significant milestone for the field. However, the optimal measurement approaches for GD are currently unclear. This comprehensive systematic review aimed to identify and evaluate all available English-language GD tools and their corresponding evidence. A search of PsychINFO, PsychArticles, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar identified 32 tools employed in 320 studies (N = 462,249 participants). The evaluation framework examined tools in relation to: (1) conceptual and practical considerations; (2) alignment with DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria; (3) type and quantity of studies and samples; and (4) psychometric properties. The evaluation showed that GD instrumentation has proliferated, with 2.5 tools, on average, published annually since 2013. Coverage of DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria was inconsistent, especially for the criterion of continued use despite harm. Tools converge on the importance of screening for impaired control over gaming and functional impairment. Overall, no single tool was found to be clearly superior, but the AICA-Sgaming, GAS-7, IGDT-10, IGDS9-SF, and Lemmens IGD-9 scales had greater evidential support for their psychometric properties. The GD field would benefit from a standard international tool to identify gaming-related harms across the spectrum of maladaptive gaming behaviors. publishedVersion

The extent to which young people engage in addictive behaviors, how they are affected, and whether they receive appropriate assistance has a broader social and political context. Drug policies in particular are highly political; such policies can change very quickly and are becoming highly variable around the world. It is useful to examine how broader ideological, philosophical, and political factors are likely to affect these policies. Although both governments and researchers claim to be evidence-based or evidence-formed, it is clear that political factors can influence what evidence is amassed and what evidence is heeded. Given the strong nexus between research, media interest, and politics, certain areas of addiction are more likely to be researched and noticed than others. Changes in how addiction is researched and tackled may have as much to do with changing community sentiment and understanding as with immediately changing political positions.

Empirical knowledge about the prevalence and interrelatedness of adverse childhood experiences in young people involved in youth justice systems in Australia is limited. This study examined the pre...

Objective Although there is sufficient research and clinical evidence to support the inclusion of gaming disorder in the latest revision of the International Classification of Diseases, relatively little is known about the effectiveness of first-line psychological treatment for gaming disorder or internet gaming disorder (IGD) as it is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. This systematic review employed meta-analytic techniques to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for IGD on four key outcomes: IGD symptoms, anxiety, depression, and time spent gaming. Method A database search identified 12 independent CBT studies. Effect size estimates (Hedges' g) with associated confidence intervals, prediction intervals, and p values for each pre-post treatment outcome, were calculated. Study reporting quality was evaluated in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines. Subgroup and moderator analyses were undertaken to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity. Results CBT demonstrated high efficacy in reducing IGD symptoms (g = 0.92; [0.50, 1.34]) and depression (g = 0.80, [0.21, 1.38]), and showed moderate efficacy in reducing anxiety (g = 0.55, [0.17, 0.93]) at post-test. There was insufficient power to determine whether CBT was capable of reducing time spent gaming. Treatment gains at follow-up were nonsignificant across the four treatment outcomes. Conclusions The pooled findings suggest that CBT for IGD is an effective short-term intervention for reducing IGD and depressive symptoms. However, the effectiveness of CBT for reducing actual time spent gaming was unclear. Given the limitations of this evidence base, there is a need for more rigorous studies to determine the potential long-term benefits of CBT for IGD. Public health significance statement Given the rise in treatment demand for internet gaming disorder (IGD) and problematic gaming, it is necessary to determine which treatments are most effective for whom and under which conditions. This review shows that cognitive-behavioural therapy for IGD, which is often considered the first-line therapy, can improve IGD symptoms and comorbid depression. However, treatment gains tend to be short-term and their effect in reducing time spent gaming is unclear. Programs that target problematic gaming may be improved by additional support beyond the standard program of therapy sessions. More funding and resources are needed to support the development of a more rigorous evidence base on IGD and its treatment.

Adolescents who engage in habitual digital gaming activities may be at risk of gaming disorder. Regular periods of gaming abstinence may reduce gaming urges and control gaming at healthy levels. This study examined the impact of 84-hour gaming abstinence on withdrawal, affect, and psychological distress in adolescent habitual gamers. A two (Group: abstainers; control) x six (Time: baseline; day 1, day 2, day 3; post-test; 7-day follow-up) repeated measures design was employed. A sample of 37 adolescent participants were recruited by referral from parents with concerns about their gaming behavior. Participants completed questionnaires and answered open-ended reflective questions about gaming. Overall, the principal hypotheses received limited support. Both groups reported a significant reduction in withdrawal symptoms post-baseline, which was maintained at follow up. Abstainers felt bored without a daily gaming routine, but reportedly developed new gaming attitudes and engaged in family activities and outdoor physical activities. Daily self-monitoring may have reduced gaming withdrawal, and self-monitoring combined with brief abstinence may have fostered healthier gaming attitudes. However, the reduction in withdrawal among non-abstainers suggests that the relationship between urges to play games and actual time spent playing may not be straightforward.

Individualized metacognitive training (MCT+) is a novel psychotherapy that has been designed to specifically target delusional beliefs in people with psychosis. It works by developing an awareness of the implausible content of delusional beliefs, while also targeting the cognitive biases that contribute to their formation and maintenance. It was expected that MCT+ would lead to significantly greater reductions in delusional severity compared to a cognitive remediation (CR) active control condition. A total of 54 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and active delusions were randomized into four 2-hourly sessions of MCT+ (n = 27) or CR (n = 27). All participants completed posttreatment assessment, and only 2 participants did not complete 6-month follow-up assessment, resulting in MCT+ (n = 26) and CR (n = 26) for final analysis. The primary outcome measures of delusional and positive symptom severity were assessed rater-blind; secondary outcome assessment was non-blinded and included clinical and cognitive insight, the jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias, and cognitive functioning. Participants in the MCT+ condition showed significant reductions in delusional and overall positive symptom severity (large effect) and improved clinical insight (moderate effect) relative to CR controls. In contrast, CR controls showed moderate improvement in problem-solving ability relative to MCT+, but no other cognitive domain. Importantly, these findings were maintained at 6-month follow-up. The study adds further efficacy to the MCT program, and suggests that even brief psychotherapy can help to ameliorate the symptoms of psychosis.

Video games are becoming increasingly monetized with the addition of in-game purchasing options, which has prompted some comparisons of these products to electronic gaming machines. The expansion and sophistication of ‘microtransaction’ options in online games (e.g., ‘loot boxes’) has also led to concerns about vulnerable users (e.g., adolescents) overspending on these schemes. Currently, there are limited regulatory and/or consumer protection frameworks for video game monetization schemes. This conceptual paper explores some potential social responsibility measures for monetized gaming products to stimulate further discussion and developments in this area. Loot boxes are a focus of this discussion given the current debate on their legality, i.e., similarity to electronic gambling machines. Drawing on social responsibility principles and research in the field of gambling studies, we outline some potential measures in the areas of: (1) game design and in-game purchasing system characteristics, (2) transparency and accuracy of game design and features, (3) broad consumer protection measures, and (4) consumer information and industry accountability. It is hoped that this paper will encourage further discussion among academics, regulators, and the industry. An empirical evidence base is needed to inform the design and implementation of countermeasures for monetization schemes that increase risk of gaming-related harm for some users.

Objective This study investigated the extent to which violent offending in a population of young people detained in secure care facilities is related to variations in child maltreatment after controlling for other known individual and social correlates of crime. Method Official child protection and youth justice records and survey information for 1819 young people were analyzed. Measures included: maltreatment factors (including type, timing and recurrence); out-of-home care placement factors (including type, age at first placement, stability and duration of placements); social factors (including family and peer risk indicators); and individual factors (including factors relating to intelligence and education, substance use, mental health problems, and behavior). Gender and cultural background were also investigated as potential moderating factors. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent effect of maltreatment factors on violent convictions in the presence of other risk factors. Results Persistent maltreatment was a consistent predictor of violent convictions. Other independent predictors included: aggression, anger, Indigenous status, and male gender, with household conflict also approaching significance. Conclusion Collaborative and integrated responses from both child protection and juvenile justice may be needed if comprehensive violence prevention strategies are to be developed for young offenders.

Tolerance in DSM-5 Internet gaming disorder (IGD) refers to a need for increasing time spent in gaming activities. However, the focus on ‘time’ has been criticized for being a superficial imitation of tolerance in substance-based addiction. Gaming tolerance may require a broader conceptualization of its motivational and cognitive features. The present study aimed to investigate tolerance-like processes in gaming and their association with IGD symptoms. An online survey that included a 20-item measure of gaming-related tolerance was administered to 630 adult gamers, including 4.0% who screened positively for IGD. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that a three-factor model for the tolerance items provided the best fit. These factors were: (1) Wealth, the need to accumulate in-game rewards of increasing rarity, novelty, or quantity; (2) Achievement, the need to pursue goal-driven activities of increasing complexity, difficulty, or uniqueness; and (3) Inadequacy, the need to rectify perceived insufficiencies in gaming capability or progress. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that Inadequacy was modestly but significantly related to other IGD symptoms, after controlling for age, gender, and time spent gaming. These findings support the notion that problematic gaming may be motivated by the need for completion of increasingly more intricate, time-consuming, or difficult goals to achieve satisfaction and the need to rectify perceived inadequacies related to gaming.

Little is known about the relative severity and nature of harms in different behavioural addictions. In this study, a range of harm-related questions were administered to 128 problem gamblers (M = 81, F = 45) classified using the Problem Gambling Severity Index and 72 problem gamers (M = 67, F = 5) classified using Petry et al.’s (2014) Internet Gaming Disorder measure. Respondents were recruited from two online samples obtained through Prolific. The study examined harms in five dimensions: financial, psychological, physical health, social and work/occupation. Harm items were scored using a method that allowed respondents to indicate the extent to which various harms were attributable to gambling. . Problem gamblers reported significantly more harms and more severe harm than problem gamers. Problem gamers rarely reported financial harm, but greater physical harm (e.g., less exercise, poor hygiene). Gamblers were more likely to serious work harms (e.g., job losses) whereas gamers reported milder harms such as being late to work. Gaming disorder appears to be associated with a less severe profile of harm as compared with problem gambling, with most harms relating to neglect of personal wellbeing and commitments.

Organisations and security professionals design Security Education, Training, and Awareness (SETA) programs to improve cybersecurity behaviour, but they are often poorly received by employees. To understand employee negative perceptions of SETA programs, we conducted in-depth interviews with 20 Australian employees regarding their experiences with both SETA programs and non-cybersecurity related workplace training. As expected, employees had a generally poor view of SETA programs. They reported that the same factors that are important for effective non-cybersecurity training are also important for SETA programs, such as management role modelling and well-designed workplace systems. However, the level of importance of these factors differed across the two contexts. For example, employees indicated that the misbehaviour of their colleagues is a more important factor for their appraisal of a SETA program than it is for a non-cybersecurity workplace training program. Our results suggest that employee perceptions of SETA programs relate to their previously held beliefs about cybersecurity threats, the content and delivery of the training program, the behaviour of others around them, and features of their organisation. From an applied perspective, these findings can explain why employees often do not engage with cybersecurity training material, and how their current beliefs can influence their receptivity for future training.

Recent international developments in policy and prevention for disordered or hazardous gaming are summarized. The regional scope included the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, China, Japan, and South Korea. Many recent prevention studies have trialled school-based programs to train healthier Internet and gaming use habits in adolescents. Such programs aim to promote critical reflection of gaming among players. At a policy level, much of the focus of prevention strategies have been upon the recognition of gaming-related harm, with countries such as South Korea cited as a representative example of these approaches. Although East Asian countries had led recent efforts to test and implement prevention measures for problematic gaming, further research is needed to identify the most efficacious strategies for preventing disordered gaming across diverse populations. Meaningful advances will rely upon engagement of all stakeholders, including the gaming industry where appropriate, working collaboratively to develop practical, ethical, and sustainable countermeasures.

Lucid dreaming is a learnable skill and has a wide range of potential applications. However, research in this area has been limited by a lack of effective and reliable lucid dream induction techniques. The present study provides a thorough investigation into 3 of the most promising cognitive lucid d

Problems related to high levels of gaming and Internet usage are increasingly recognized as a potential public health burden across the developed world. The aim of this review was to present an international perspective on prevention strategies for Internet gaming disorder and related health conditions (e.g., Internet addiction), as well as hazardous gaming and Internet use. A systematic review of quantitative research evidence was conducted, followed by a search of governmental reports, policy and position statements, and health guidelines in the last decade. The regional scope included the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Prevention studies have mainly involved school-based programs to train healthier Internet use habits in adolescents. The efficacy of selective prevention is promising but warrants further empirical attention. On an international scale, the formal recognition of gaming or Internet use as a disorder or as having quantifiable harms at certain levels of usage has been foundational to developing structured prevention responses. The South Korean model, in particular, is an exemplar of a coordinated response to a public health threat, with extensive government initiatives and long-term strategic plans at all three levels of prevention (i.e., universal, selective, and indicated). Western regions, by comparison, are dominated by prevention approaches led by non-profit organizations and private enterprise. The future of prevention of gaming and Internet problems ultimately relies upon all stakeholders working collaboratively in the public interest, confronting the reality of the evidence base and developing practical, ethical, and sustainable countermeasures.

In this article, we provide a commentary on Hancock and Smith’s critique of the Reno model of responsible gambling. In our view, Hancock and Smith raise many legitimate concerns about the progress of gambling policy reform. Most attempts at minimising the harm associated with higher risk gambling products such as EGMs have been based on responsible gambling principles rather than a true consumer protection framework. As a result, much of the emphasis has been on modifying individual behaviour rather than significant reforms relating to industry operations, practices and the nature of the products. On the whole, we endorse these views. However, we argue that the paper depicts developments in research and policy a bit too selectively and also imputes too many causal links between the Reno model and other activities in the gambling sector. Some reforms and research topics identified in the paper have been discussed, investigated or implemented in some jurisdictions. Other issues including the slow replacement cycle of gambling technology and the structure of the gaming industry may also need to be considered as barriers to reform.

Treatment services for Internet gaming disorder are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, particularly in East Asia. This international systematic review was designed to appraise the quality standards of the gaming disorder treatment literature, a task previously undertaken by King et al. (2011) prior to the inclusion of Internet gaming disorder in Section III of the DSM-5 and 'Gaming disorder' in the draft ICD-11. The reporting quality of 30 treatment studies conducted from 2007 to 2016 was assessed. Reporting quality was defined according to the 2010 Consolidating Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement. The results reaffirmed previous criticisms of these trials, namely: (a) inconsistencies in the definition, diagnosis, and measurement of disordered use; (b) lack of randomization and blinding; (c) lack of controls; and (d) insufficient information on recruitment dates, sample characteristics, and effect sizes. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy has a larger evidence base than other therapies, it remains difficult to make definitive statements on its benefits. Study design quality has not improved over the last decade, indicating a need for greater consistency and standardization in this area. Continuing international efforts to understand the core psychopathology of gaming disorder are vital to developing a model of best practice in treatment.

Background and aims The aim of this paper is to examine the evidence and arguments in favor of prevention paradox (PP) logic in the context of problem gambling. Evidence from recent studies of gambling and the distribution of harm across lower and higher risk gamblers is reviewed to examine the contention that the absolute burden of harm is greater in low-risk (LR) gamblers than the problem gamblers. Methods The review examines a number of methodological and conceptual concerns about existing evidence in support of the PP. Results The principal problems identified include the misclassification of LR gamblers; the use of binary scoring method that understates the frequency of harms in high-risk populations; a tendency to confuse behavior and harm; and the use of potentially overly inclusive definitions of harm with low thresholds of severity. Discussion and conclusions This paper makes a number of recommendations for enhancement of this area of research, including the use of clear definitions of harm and LR behavior and a greater focus on harm with material impacts on people’s quality of life.