An evaluation of the pathways model using the Quinte Longitudinal dataset

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe present study tested tenets of the Pathways Model of problem gambling by completing a cross-sectional latent class analysis using an existing dataset. The sample in this study consisted of 125 first-time adult problem gamblers from Ontario, Canada who participated in the Quinte Longitudinal study of Gambling and Problem Gambling. A three-class solution was found to be the best fitting model. There was a class resembling Behaviourally Conditioned gambler (n = 40), demonstrating minimal rates of pre-existing psychopathology and social dysfunction; a class that shared consistencies with the Emotionally Vulnerable gambler (n = 56), showing intermediate rates of anxiety, depression, problematic substance use and social dysfunction prior to onset of problem gambling; and a class resembling the Anti-social Impulsivist gambler (n = 29) characterized by the highest impulsivity, social dysfunction, antisociality and pre-existing psychiatric illness. Overall the findings provide evidence for the etiological assumptions of the Pathways Model by demonstrating that problem gamblers can be sub-grouped on traits pre-existing the development of aberrant gambling. These findings have implications for prevention and clinical practice, as specific groups of problem gamblers may require tailored intervention and prevention efforts.