Gambling Behaviour and Motivation in British Older Adult Populations: A Grounded Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Gambling participation among older adults aged 65 and above has increased in Great Britain. However, there is limited research and therefore understanding about cognitive and behavioural patterns of gambling for this demographic. The objective of this study is to develop a substantive framework that represents the gambling behaviour of older adults in Great Britain, with specific reference to motivational factors affecting behaviour. A systematic grounded theory approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) was used to produce an inductive set of theoretical propositions. A stratified sample of 17 British older adults aged 65 years and older, who gambled frequently, was recruited. Theoretical sampling was used to fully develop emerging concepts. Axial and selective coding revealed that gambling was often used as a coping mechanism to alleviate distress from psychological and physical lifestyle changes associated with the aging process. In total, four grounded theoretical propositions emerged that accounted for gambling participation, including facilitation of gambling, psychological stress reduction, physical stress mediation, and satisfaction of stimulation needs. Patterns emerged from the data that suggested unique motivational factors regarding gambling behaviour of older adults in Great Britain in contrast to other adult populations. This is the first study to investigate gambling behaviour in British older adults. New directions for future research are discussed in relation to emergent findings.Une augmentation de la participation des personnes âgées de 65 ans et plus au jeu a été observée en Grande-Bretagne. Il existe toutefois peu d’études sur le sujet et, par conséquent, on connaît peu les caractéristiques cognitives et comportementales de ce groupe de la population en ce qui a trait au jeu. La présente étude vise à concevoir un important cadre de travail représentant le comportement de jeu des personnes âgées en G.-B., faisant explicitement référence aux facteurs qui motivent le comportement. On a utilisé la méthode de la théorie ancrée (systematic grounded theory) (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) pour produire un ensemble inductif de propositions théoriques. Un échantillon stratifié de 17 Britanniques âgés de 65 ans et plus s’adonnant souvent au jeu a été formé. L’échantillonnage théorique a servi à élaborer de nouveaux concepts. Le codage axial et sélectif des données a révélé que le jeu était souvent employé comme mécanisme d’adaptation pour atténuer la détresse découlant des changements psychologiques et physiques du mode de vie associés au processus de vieillissement. Au total, quatre propositions de théorie ancrée ont émergé pour expliquer la participation au jeu : la facilitation du jeu, la réduction du stress psychologique, la médiation du stress physique et la satisfaction des besoins de stimulation. Les caractéristiques émergeant des données laissent entendre que par rapport à d’autres populations de personnes âgées, il y aurait des facteurs motivationnels uniques au comportement de jeu des personnes âgées en G.-B. Cette étude est la première à se pencher sur le comportement de jeu des personnes âgées britanniques et à discuter des nouvelles orientations à donner aux études futures compte tenu des conclusions qui y sont énoncées.

Gambling activity in the old-age general population

“…The high prevalence of participants who reported gambling behaviour (around 72 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women) is consistent with previous research studies, which show that gambling is a common leisure activity among elderly people in developed countries (Alberghetti and Collins, 2015; Pattinson and Parke, 2016; Subramaniam et al ., 2017 b ). The higher preference of non-strategic gambling was also an expected result, confirming that elderly people usually select simple games (Black et al ., 2017; Granero et al ., 2020; Jiménez-Murcia et al ., 2020).…”

“…This situation is especially problematic among elderly people, since it has been observed that older adults with a GD often experience higher levels of psychological distress and/or comorbidity compared with younger adults (van der Maas et al ., 2017; Parke et al ., 2018). Unlike younger gamblers, who usually report looking for action and excitement as a primary motivation for gambling (Armstrong et al ., 2020), many older people use gambling as an escape, and seniors with the greatest need for that escape are those with previous physical and/or psychological disease (who are precisely the most vulnerable to developing gambling problems) (Tira et al ., 2014; Medeiros et al ., 2015; Subramaniam et al ., 2015; Pattinson and Parke, 2016). People who have recently lost their partner, or even those who have retired from work, are at risk of suffering from anxiety or depression, and they can find an opportunity to cope with distress in gambling and in the use of comorbid substances (Botterill et al ., 2016).…”

Age-related physical and psychological vulnerability as pathways to problem gambling in older adults

“…As noted previously by Alberghetti and Collins ( 2015 ), this approach is already engaged in by several clinical services specific to older adults, such as the Addiction Services of Thames Valley (UK), whose volunteers facilitate social events and interaction across peers, as a direct replacement for gambling. It appears appropriate to encourage clinical and community services to advocate for the creation and facilitation of opportunities for older adults to engage in social interaction in safe and stimulating environments because currently, there appears to be insufficient opportunities available ( Pattinson & Parke, 2016 ).…”

“…Several core motivations for gambling might be operative in older adult populations. Recent increases in the availability of gambling products and services (including online gambling), combined with age-related physical deterioration, means that gambling may represent one of the few leisure pursuits that are available and highly accessible to older adults ( Alberghetti & Collins, 2015 ; Erickson, Molina, Ladd, Pietrzak, & Petry, 2005 ; Pattinson & Parke, 2016 ; Pietrzak & Petry, 2006 ). For some individuals, old age is associated with retirement from employment and declining social networks and purpose in life ( Alberghetti & Collins, 2015 ).…”

“…Deterioration of physical health in old age is related to depression ( Aylaz et al., 2012 ). More specifically, recent qualitative research has indicated that when older adult problem gamblers experienced negative outcomes in relation to transitioning into older adulthood such as depression, they often engage in avoidant rather than adaptive coping behavior ( Pattinson & Parke, 2016 , 2017 ). These participants stated that they felt that their physical decline was inevitable, and that the negative outcomes would continue, because they did not have the resources to address the problems and to improve their social and physical circumstances ( Pattinson & Parke, 2017 ).…”