Local area disadvantage and gambling involvement and disorder: Evidence for gene-environment correlation and interaction.

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that local area characteristics (such as disadvantage and gambling outlet density) and genetic risk factors are associated with gambling involvement and disordered gambling. These two lines of research were brought together in the present study by examining the extent to which genetic contributions to individual differences in gambling involvement and disorder contributed to being exposed to, and were also accentuated by, local area disadvantage. Participants were members of the national community-based Australian Twin Registry who completed a telephone interview in which the past-year frequency of gambling and symptoms of disordered gambling were assessed. Indicators of local area disadvantage were based on census data matched to the participants' postal codes. Univariate biometric model-fitting revealed that exposure to area disadvantage was partially explained by genetic factors. Bivariate biometric model-fitting was conducted to examine the evidence for gene-environment interaction while accounting for gene-environment correlation. These analyses demonstrated that: (a) a small portion of the genetic propensity to gamble was explained by moving to or remaining in a disadvantaged area, and (b) the remaining genetic and unique environmental variation in the frequency of participating in electronic machine gambling (among men and women) and symptoms of disordered gambling (among women) was greater in more disadvantaged localities. As the gambling industry continues to grow, it will be important to take into account the multiple contexts in which problematic gambling behavior can emerge -- from genes to geography -- as well as the ways in which such contexts may interact with each other.

The relationship between gambling expenditure, socio‐demographics, health‐related correlates and gambling behaviour—a cross‐sectional population‐based survey in Finland

“…All in all, the key finding of our study is that lower‐income individuals contribute proportionally more of their income to gambling compared to middle‐ and high‐income groups . It is noteworthy that people who are already in precarious social and financial situations tend to live in neighbourhoods with a high density of gambling opportunities . The associated risk of gambling‐related problems and experienced harms gives rise to inequality, as pointed out by Selin and colleagues .…”

Neighborhood Contextual Factors, Alcohol Use, and Alcohol Problems in the United States: Evidence From a Nationally Representative Study of Young Adults

“…It is equally plausible that these might reflect the impact of the individual on her choice of environment (Gruenewald, ); this might be especially germane to young adults just beginning to exert their independence. The impact of the individual is nicely illustrated by a recent twin study that found that individual differences in moving to or remaining in a disadvantaged neighborhood was due in part to genetic factors (Slutske et al., ). Only a handful of studies have been able to disentangle the potentially causal influences of the alcohol environment from selection into such an environment (Buu et al., ; Jokela, ).…”

Internet gaming disorder: Trends in prevalence 1998–2016

“…Multiple studies have found availability of gambling outlets to lead to increased gambling addiction (44–46). Since a hallmark of addiction is continued use despite negative consequences, the lack of subsequently impaired function is one way to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy use.…”