The family environment of married male pathological gamblers, alcoholics, and dually addicted gamblers

Abstract

The family environments of married pathological gamblers, alcoholics, and alcoholic gamblers were measured with the Family Environment Scale (FES), a measure of 10 characteristics of family life. The total sample consists of 193 hospitalized patients, which includes 73 male alcoholics, 53 female alcoholics, and 67 male pathological gamblers, of whom 34 were alcoholics and 33 were not. All four treatment groups had a significantly lower degree of cohesion than normal controls. Male alcoholic gamblers reported significantly more conflict and less personal independence than controls, while male gamblers (nonalcoholics) reported less independence and intellectual-cultural orientation. Male alcoholics (nongamblers) reported more conflict, less independence, intellectual-cultural orientation, and active-recreational orientation than normals. Female alcoholics (nongamblers) also reported less intellectual-cultural orientation and active-recreational orientation than normals. Except for one comparison, treatment groups did not differ from each other. The implications of these findings for models of addiction are discussed as well as their contribution to understanding family issues for pathological gamblers.