title: Trauma history and severity of gambling involvement among horse-race gamblers in a South African gambling setting.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the frequency of gambling involvement and the prevalence of problem gambling among horse race gamblers and to discover whether problem gambling in this sample is associated with a history of trauma. Among a sample of 266 South African horse-race gamblers (94% men and 6% women, Mage 46.8 yr., SD = 13.9, range 18-85 years), 31.2% were classified as probable pathological gamblers and 19.9% with problem gambling. Major weekly gambling activities included racetrack betting (82%), purchase of lottery tickets or scratch tickets (35%), purchase of sports lottery tickets (23%), and using casino type games (18%). Trauma history was significantly associated with gambling severity.
authors.affiliation: Human Sciences Research Council, University of Limpopo, Pretoria, South Africa. KPeltzer@hsrc.ac.za
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peltzer
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mabilu
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Mathoho
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nekhwevha
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sikhwivhilu
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Sinthumule
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*