No Cover Image

Journal article 191 views 52 downloads

Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans

Adanma Ekenna Orcid Logo, Dana Dekel, Hilary Engward, Lauren Godier-MacBard, Christopher Kay, Thomas Kersey, Matt Fossey, Simon Dymond Orcid Logo

Journal of Gambling Studies

Swansea University Authors: Adanma Ekenna Orcid Logo, Dana Dekel, Simon Dymond Orcid Logo

  • 70788.VOR.pdf

    PDF | Version of Record

    © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

    Download (1.37MB)

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1007/s10899-025-10451-6

Abstract

Veterans are prone to experiencing both mental health challenges and harm from gambling, yet little is known about the psychosocial factors that may increase risk. This study examined predictors of gambling harm severity in a sample of UK Armed Forces veterans with a focus on coping styles and reint...

Full description

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies
ISSN: 1573-3602
Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2025
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70788
first_indexed 2025-10-28T10:53:00Z
last_indexed 2025-11-21T18:10:19Z
id cronfa70788
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2025-11-20T14:32:01.9825407</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>70788</id><entry>2025-10-28</entry><title>Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>7a89435c42c9c41d6946cdfc19c3831b</sid><ORCID>0000-0002-1348-5102</ORCID><firstname>Adanma</firstname><surname>Ekenna</surname><name>Adanma Ekenna</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>7904c581b4da2217c348434c9f04f165</sid><firstname>Dana</firstname><surname>Dekel</surname><name>Dana Dekel</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-1319-4492</ORCID><firstname>Simon</firstname><surname>Dymond</surname><name>Simon Dymond</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2025-10-28</date><deptcode>PSYS</deptcode><abstract>Veterans are prone to experiencing both mental health challenges and harm from gambling, yet little is known about the psychosocial factors that may increase risk. This study examined predictors of gambling harm severity in a sample of UK Armed Forces veterans with a focus on coping styles and reintegration into civilian employment. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 414 former personnel using validated measures of gambling behavior, coping, and mental health symptoms including alcohol use. Of the 226 (54.6%) who had gambled in the past year, 3.1% had scores suggestive of problem gambling. Results showed that 46% of participants exhibited symptoms suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while 8.4% reported severe anxiety, 10.2% severe depression, and 11.1% high-risk alcohol use. Gambling harm severity was positively predicted by difficulties adapting to civilian employment and maladaptive coping strategies such as self-blame and substance use, while use of informational support was found to be protective. Given higher rates of primary care engagement among veterans, routine screening for gambling-related harm in such settings may improve early detection and intervention. The findings underscore the need for integrated mental health services that consider both psychological and social determinants of gambling harm severity in veterans during the military-to-civilian transition.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Journal of Gambling Studies</journal><volume>0</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher>Springer Science and Business Media LLC</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>1573-3602</issnElectronic><keywords>Veterans; Problem gambling; Coping strategies; Civilian transition; Primary care</keywords><publishedDay>4</publishedDay><publishedMonth>11</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-11-04</publishedDate><doi>10.1007/s10899-025-10451-6</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Psychology School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>PSYS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal)</apcterm><funders>This work was funded by an award from the Gambling Commission&#x2019;s Social Responsibility Fund (Regulatory Settlements).</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-11-20T14:32:01.9825407</lastEdited><Created>2025-10-28T10:49:18.2454560</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Psychology</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Adanma</firstname><surname>Ekenna</surname><orcid>0000-0002-1348-5102</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Dana</firstname><surname>Dekel</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Hilary</firstname><surname>Engward</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Lauren</firstname><surname>Godier-MacBard</surname><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Christopher</firstname><surname>Kay</surname><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Thomas</firstname><surname>Kersey</surname><order>6</order></author><author><firstname>Matt</firstname><surname>Fossey</surname><order>7</order></author><author><firstname>Simon</firstname><surname>Dymond</surname><orcid>0000-0003-1319-4492</orcid><order>8</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>70788__35588__5983bdf21ab848dd8731e2fc07c38d93.pdf</filename><originalFilename>70788.VOR.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-11-07T13:44:58.3428637</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>1432760</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>&#xA9; The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2025-11-20T14:32:01.9825407 v2 70788 2025-10-28 Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans 7a89435c42c9c41d6946cdfc19c3831b 0000-0002-1348-5102 Adanma Ekenna Adanma Ekenna true false 7904c581b4da2217c348434c9f04f165 Dana Dekel Dana Dekel true false 8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075 0000-0003-1319-4492 Simon Dymond Simon Dymond true false 2025-10-28 PSYS Veterans are prone to experiencing both mental health challenges and harm from gambling, yet little is known about the psychosocial factors that may increase risk. This study examined predictors of gambling harm severity in a sample of UK Armed Forces veterans with a focus on coping styles and reintegration into civilian employment. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 414 former personnel using validated measures of gambling behavior, coping, and mental health symptoms including alcohol use. Of the 226 (54.6%) who had gambled in the past year, 3.1% had scores suggestive of problem gambling. Results showed that 46% of participants exhibited symptoms suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while 8.4% reported severe anxiety, 10.2% severe depression, and 11.1% high-risk alcohol use. Gambling harm severity was positively predicted by difficulties adapting to civilian employment and maladaptive coping strategies such as self-blame and substance use, while use of informational support was found to be protective. Given higher rates of primary care engagement among veterans, routine screening for gambling-related harm in such settings may improve early detection and intervention. The findings underscore the need for integrated mental health services that consider both psychological and social determinants of gambling harm severity in veterans during the military-to-civilian transition. Journal Article Journal of Gambling Studies 0 Springer Science and Business Media LLC 1573-3602 Veterans; Problem gambling; Coping strategies; Civilian transition; Primary care 4 11 2025 2025-11-04 10.1007/s10899-025-10451-6 COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) This work was funded by an award from the Gambling Commission’s Social Responsibility Fund (Regulatory Settlements). 2025-11-20T14:32:01.9825407 2025-10-28T10:49:18.2454560 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Adanma Ekenna 0000-0002-1348-5102 1 Dana Dekel 2 Hilary Engward 3 Lauren Godier-MacBard 4 Christopher Kay 5 Thomas Kersey 6 Matt Fossey 7 Simon Dymond 0000-0003-1319-4492 8 70788__35588__5983bdf21ab848dd8731e2fc07c38d93.pdf 70788.VOR.pdf 2025-11-07T13:44:58.3428637 Output 1432760 application/pdf Version of Record true © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans
spellingShingle Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans
Adanma Ekenna
Dana Dekel
Simon Dymond
title_short Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans
title_full Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans
title_fullStr Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans
title_full_unstemmed Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans
title_sort Coping, Civilian Transition, and Gambling Harm Severity in UK Armed Forces Veterans
author_id_str_mv 7a89435c42c9c41d6946cdfc19c3831b
7904c581b4da2217c348434c9f04f165
8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075
author_id_fullname_str_mv 7a89435c42c9c41d6946cdfc19c3831b_***_Adanma Ekenna
7904c581b4da2217c348434c9f04f165_***_Dana Dekel
8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075_***_Simon Dymond
author Adanma Ekenna
Dana Dekel
Simon Dymond
author2 Adanma Ekenna
Dana Dekel
Hilary Engward
Lauren Godier-MacBard
Christopher Kay
Thomas Kersey
Matt Fossey
Simon Dymond
format Journal article
container_title Journal of Gambling Studies
container_volume 0
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 1573-3602
doi_str_mv 10.1007/s10899-025-10451-6
publisher Springer Science and Business Media LLC
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Veterans are prone to experiencing both mental health challenges and harm from gambling, yet little is known about the psychosocial factors that may increase risk. This study examined predictors of gambling harm severity in a sample of UK Armed Forces veterans with a focus on coping styles and reintegration into civilian employment. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 414 former personnel using validated measures of gambling behavior, coping, and mental health symptoms including alcohol use. Of the 226 (54.6%) who had gambled in the past year, 3.1% had scores suggestive of problem gambling. Results showed that 46% of participants exhibited symptoms suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while 8.4% reported severe anxiety, 10.2% severe depression, and 11.1% high-risk alcohol use. Gambling harm severity was positively predicted by difficulties adapting to civilian employment and maladaptive coping strategies such as self-blame and substance use, while use of informational support was found to be protective. Given higher rates of primary care engagement among veterans, routine screening for gambling-related harm in such settings may improve early detection and intervention. The findings underscore the need for integrated mental health services that consider both psychological and social determinants of gambling harm severity in veterans during the military-to-civilian transition.
published_date 2025-11-04T05:33:44Z
_version_ 1856896421009031168
score 11.096007

Similar Items