title: Implications of gambling problems for family and interpersonal adjustment: results from the Quinte Longitudinal Study.
abstract: To evaluate (1) whether gambling problems predict overall trajectories of change in family or interpersonal adjustment and (2) whether annual measures of gambling problems predict time-specific decreases in family or interpersonal adjustment, concurrently and prospectively.
  
  
  
  The Quinte Longitudinal Study (QLS) involved random-digit dialling of telephone numbers around the city of Belleville, Canada to recruit 'general population' and 'at-risk' groups (the latter oversampling people likely to develop problems). Five waves of assessment were conducted (2006-10). Latent Trajectory Modelling (LTM) estimated overall trajectories of family and interpersonal adjustment, which were predicted by gambling problems, and also estimated how time-specific problems predicted deviations from these trajectories.
  
  
  
  Southeast Ontario, Canada.
  
  
  
  Community sample of Canadian adults (n = 4121).
  
  
  
  The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) defined at-risk gambling (ARG: PGSI 1-2) and moderate-risk/problem gambling (MR/PG: PGSI 3+). Outcomes included: (1) family functioning, assessed using a seven-point rating of overall functioning; (2) social support, assessed using items from the Non-support subscale of the Personality Assessment Inventory; and (3) relationship satisfaction, measured by the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale.
  
  
  
  Baseline measures of ARG and MR/PG did not predict rates of change in trajectories of family or interpersonal adjustment. Rather, the annual measures of MR/PG predicted time-specific decreases in family functioning (estimate: -0.11, P < 0.01), social support (estimate: -0.28, P < 0.01) and relationship satisfaction (estimate: -0.53, P < 0.01). ARG predicted concurrent levels of family functioning (estimate: -0.07, P < 0.01). There were time-lagged effects of MR/PG on subsequent levels of family functioning (estimate: -0.12, P < 0.01) and social support (estimate: -0.24, P < 0.01).
  
  
  
  In a longitudinal study of Canadian adults, moderate-risk/problem gambling did not predict overall trajectories of family or interpersonal adjustment. Rather, the annual measures of moderate-risk/problem gambling predicted time-specific and concurrent decreases in all outcomes, and lower family functioning and social support across adjacent waves.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.|Centre for Gambling Research, College of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Sociology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cowlishaw
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gambling Research, College of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Sociology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Aino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suomi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gambling Research, College of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Sociology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodgers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Community sample; Latent Trajectory Modelling (LTM); family functioning; gambling; longitudinal; relationship satisfaction; social support