Struggling to make ends meet? A population-based study of problem gambling severity and compromised basic needs

Session Title

Poster session

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Start Date

27-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

Financial difficulties are among the most common harms experienced by people with gambling problems. Such difficulties may lead individuals to compromise on basic needs, such as food, medicine, and/or medical appointments, due to a lack of money. This may further worsen the situation of people with gambling problems, who often also face disadvantages such as low socioeconomic status and health problems. This study aims to investigate the association between problem gambling severity and compromised basic needs. Cross-sectional population-based data from the Healthy Finland Survey 2022–23 was exploited, including adults aged 20+ (n = 28,154; response rate 46%). Compromised basic needs (food, medicine, and/or medical appointments) were the dependent variable, and past-year gambling severity, measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), was the independent variable. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors. The results showed that 58% of individuals with problem gambling had compromised basic needs due to a lack of money. The proportions were 22% among those with moderate-risk gambling and 19% among those with low-risk gambling, compared to 10% for individuals with non-problem gambling and 11% for those with non-gambling. Even after adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with gambling problems were more likely to experience compromised basic needs than those who did not gamble. More detailed results will be presented at the conference.

Author Bios

Tanja Grönroos is PhD in the field of Social Policy. She works as a Senior Researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. Her research interests focus on the social, financial, and health-related factors associated with harmful gambling. She is a Co-Principal Investigator in a population-based survey on gambling in Finland.

Share

COinS
 
May 27th, 12:00 AM

Struggling to make ends meet? A population-based study of problem gambling severity and compromised basic needs

Financial difficulties are among the most common harms experienced by people with gambling problems. Such difficulties may lead individuals to compromise on basic needs, such as food, medicine, and/or medical appointments, due to a lack of money. This may further worsen the situation of people with gambling problems, who often also face disadvantages such as low socioeconomic status and health problems. This study aims to investigate the association between problem gambling severity and compromised basic needs. Cross-sectional population-based data from the Healthy Finland Survey 2022–23 was exploited, including adults aged 20+ (n = 28,154; response rate 46%). Compromised basic needs (food, medicine, and/or medical appointments) were the dependent variable, and past-year gambling severity, measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), was the independent variable. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors. The results showed that 58% of individuals with problem gambling had compromised basic needs due to a lack of money. The proportions were 22% among those with moderate-risk gambling and 19% among those with low-risk gambling, compared to 10% for individuals with non-problem gambling and 11% for those with non-gambling. Even after adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with gambling problems were more likely to experience compromised basic needs than those who did not gamble. More detailed results will be presented at the conference.