Effects of Intimate Partner Violence on Gambling Among New Parents: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Session Title

Poster session

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Start Date

27-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

Background: Studies have identified an elevated risk of problematic gambling in victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Physical and psychological escape and coping have been identified as motivators. Such findings are concerning considering the elevated risk of depression, decrease in financial security, and increased incidence of IPV during the pandemic. However, the effects of pandemic hardship on gambling in new parents remains unexplored. Present study aims to address the gap by assessing the relationship between pandemic hardship and IPV, and its subsequent impact on depression and gambling. Methods: Present study is a secondary analysis of the data collected from a prospective longitudinal cohort study, Pregnancy during the Pandemic (N=333). We tested two serial mediation path models with active gambling and problem-gambling by the birthing parent at 36 months postpartum as outcomes. Results: The indirect pathway from pandemic hardship, IPV, depression, then active gambling, was significant for the birthing parent (B=0.010, p<.05), but not for problem-gambling (B=0.032, p=0.10). Discussion: The significance of the indirect pathway for active gambling suggests gambling may be a coping response to IPV and subsequent depression among perinatal individuals. However, the lack of significance for the problem-gambling model indicates the need to further explore other contributing factors.

Author Bios

James (Won Kyu) is a current PhD student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary. His research interests focus on perinatal mental health and its impact on intimate relationships and pregnancy outcomes.

Share

COinS
 
May 27th, 12:00 AM

Effects of Intimate Partner Violence on Gambling Among New Parents: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Studies have identified an elevated risk of problematic gambling in victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Physical and psychological escape and coping have been identified as motivators. Such findings are concerning considering the elevated risk of depression, decrease in financial security, and increased incidence of IPV during the pandemic. However, the effects of pandemic hardship on gambling in new parents remains unexplored. Present study aims to address the gap by assessing the relationship between pandemic hardship and IPV, and its subsequent impact on depression and gambling. Methods: Present study is a secondary analysis of the data collected from a prospective longitudinal cohort study, Pregnancy during the Pandemic (N=333). We tested two serial mediation path models with active gambling and problem-gambling by the birthing parent at 36 months postpartum as outcomes. Results: The indirect pathway from pandemic hardship, IPV, depression, then active gambling, was significant for the birthing parent (B=0.010, p<.05), but not for problem-gambling (B=0.032, p=0.10). Discussion: The significance of the indirect pathway for active gambling suggests gambling may be a coping response to IPV and subsequent depression among perinatal individuals. However, the lack of significance for the problem-gambling model indicates the need to further explore other contributing factors.