title: Problem and pathological gambling are associated with poorer mental and physical health in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence and correlates of problem and pathological gambling in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults (n = 343) aged 60 years and older attending senior centers, bingo sites and other community activities completed a screening form containing the South Oaks Gambling Screen and the Short Form-12 Health Survey, to evaluate physical and mental health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 6.4% of the respondents were classified as problem gamblers and an additional 3.8% as pathological gamblers. Problem and pathological gamblers evidenced significantly greater physical and mental health problems than non-problem gamblers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that about 10 percent of active older adults experience gambling problems, which are associated with poor physical and mental health.
authors: University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030-3944, USA.
authors: Lauren
authors: L
authors: Erickson
authors: Cheryl A
authors: CA
authors: Molina
authors: George T
authors: GT
authors: Ladd
authors: Robert H
authors: RH
authors: Pietrzak
authors: Nancy M
authors: NM
authors: Petry
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires