title: Sense of Coherence and Gambling: Exploring the Relationship Between Sense of Coherence, Gambling Behaviour and Gambling-Related Harm.
abstract: Understanding why some people experience problems with gambling whilst others are able to restrict gambling to recreational levels is still largely unexplained. One potential explanation is through salutogenesis, which is a health promotion approach of understanding factors which move people towards health rather than disease. An important aspect of salutogenesis is sense of coherence. Individuals with stronger sense of coherence perceive their environment as comprehensible, manageable and meaningful. The present study examined the relationship of individuals' sense of coherence on their gambling behaviour and experience of gambling related harm. This exploratory study utilised an archival dataset (n = 1236) from an online, cross sectional survey of people who had experienced negative consequences from gambling. In general, a stronger sense of coherence was related to lower problem gambling severity. When gambling behaviour was controlled for, sense of coherence was significantly related to the experience of individual gambling harms. A strong sense of coherence can be seen as a protective factor against problematic gambling behaviour, and subsequent gambling related harms. These findings support the value of both primary and tertiary prevention strategies that strengthen sense of coherence as a harm minimisation strategy. The present study demonstrates the potential value of, and provides clear direction for, considering sense of coherence in order to understand gambling-related issues.
authors: School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, PO Box 7815, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia. e.langham@cqu.edu.au.
authors: Erika
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1824-5108
authors: E
authors: Langham
authors: Centre for Gambling Education and Research, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia.
authors: Alex M T
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3685-7220
authors: AMT
authors: Russell
authors: School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, PO Box 7815, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
authors: Nerilee
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2150-9784
authors: N
authors: Hing
authors: Centre for Gambling Education and Research, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia.
authors: Sally M
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9641-5838
authors: SM
authors: Gainsbury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060685:Sense of Coherence
keywords: Determinants of health; Gambling harm; Problem gambling; Protective factors; Risk factors; Salutogenesis