Manthey, Starr (2011) Gender, and Coping Strategies in Problematic Gamblers. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Problematic and pathological gambling has been identified as a major concern in Australia with prevalence rates steadily increasing, and the margin between male and female pathological gamblers decreasing. Within the psychological literature, problematic and pathological gambling development and maintenance has been investigated through coping processes and gender differences. Previous literature has identified links between problematic gambling and coping strategies, and problematic gambling and gender. However, currently there are no studies that have addressed the question of the moderating role of gender with regard to coping strategies in predicting problematic gambling severity. Further understanding of how problematic gamblers cope especially in relation to their gender will encourage the development of gender appropriate treatments for this disorder. As the consequences for this disorder have been found in previous research to effect males and females quite differently. The present study aimed to examine the potential moderating role of gender with respect to specific coping strategy use in predicting problematic gambling severity. Participants were 64 problem gamblers seeking treatment at Lifeline Gambling centres with a mean age of 39.20 (SD = 12.01). Data were collected through Lifeline Gambling centres throughout Queensland. Pathological gambling severity was assessed using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (Lesieur & Blume, 1987) and coping strategies were assessed using the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (Folkman & Lazarus, 1988). No significant gender moderating effects were identified between Positive Reappraisal coping, SelfControlling coping, Distancing coping, Seeking Social Support coping, and EscapeAvoidance coping in predicting pathological gambling severity. However, significant gender moderating effects were identified between Planful Problem Solving coping, Accepting Responsibility coping, and Confrontative Coping in predicting pathological gambling severity. Many of these results are not consistent with relevant previous research. However, this is likely due to a number of limitations evident in the present study including the possibility of an unrepresentative sample which is unlikely to generalise to the population, and the small utilised sample of both males and females leading to a lack of statistical power. The present study adds to the previous literature by utilising the full measure of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire to specifically address the coping strategies employed by pathological gamblers, and by adding to the small quantity of research utilising an Australian population.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | David Lalor |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Oct 2025 01:19 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2025 01:19 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52534 |
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