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Meta-Analysis
. 2001 May-Jun;92(3):168-72.
doi: 10.1007/BF03404298.

Updating and refining prevalence estimates of disordered gambling behaviour in the United States and Canada

H J Shaffer  1 , M N Hall
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Updating and refining prevalence estimates of disordered gambling behaviour in the United States and Canada

H J Shaffer et al. Can J Public Health. 2001 May-Jun.

Abstract
in English, French

Background: This study updates prevalence estimates of gambling-related disorders in the United States and Canada, identifies differences in prevalence estimates among population segments, and identifies changes in prevalence over the past 25 years.

Method: A meta-analytic strategy guided the synthesis of 180 estimates derived from 146 prevalence studies.

Results: Prevalence estimates among adolescent samples were significantly higher than estimates among adult samples for both clinical (level 3) and sub-clinical (level 2) measures of disordered gambling within both lifetime and past-year time frames. Among adults, level 3 prevalence estimates continue to increase significantly.

Conclusions: Membership in youth, treatment, and prison population segments is significantly associated with experiencing gambling-related disorders. Understanding sub-clinical gamblers provides a meaningful opportunity to lower the public health burden associated with gambling disorders. Prospective studies of incidence are necessary to determine whether the prevalence of disordered gambling continues to increase among the adult general population and how adolescent gambling experiences change as this cohort ages.

Contexte: L’étude vise à mettre à jour les estimations de prévalence des troubles associés aux jeux de hasard aux États-Unis et au Canada, à en cerner les différences selon divers segments de population et à définir les changements de prévalence des 25 dernières années.

Méthode: Une stratégie méta-analytique a guidé la synthèse de 180 estimations, dérivées de 146 études de prévalence.

Résultats: Tant au niveau clinique (3) que subclinique (2), les estimations de prévalence du jeu pathologique, la vie durant et au cours des 12 mois précédents, sont sensiblement plus élevées chez les adolescents que chez les adultes. Dans les échantillons d’adultes cependant, les estimations de prévalence de niveau 3 continuent à augmenter de manière significative.

Conclusions: L’appartenance aux segments des jeunes, des personnes suivant un traitement et de la population carcérale présente une corrélation significative avec les troubles associés aux jeux d’argent. En étant mieux renseignés sur les joueurs qui présentent des troubles subcliniques, on réduirait considérablement le fardeau de santé publique associé au jeu pathologique. Il faudrait aussi mener des études de cohortes prospectives pour déterminer si la prévalence du jeu pathologique continue à augmenter dans la population adulte générale et comment évoluent dans le temps les expériences de jeu d’une cohorte d’adolescents.

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References

    1. National Gambling Impact Study Commission. National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report. Washington, DC: National Gambling Impact Study Commission; 1999. - PubMed
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