225425 Perceived health among older adult pathological gamblers

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Cynthia Sullivan Kerber, PhD , Nursing, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Kari Hickey, MS, RN , Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
ABSTRACT The proliferation of state lotteries and casinos has led to an increased participation in gambling and its associated problems. Older retired adults have more opportunities to gamble and available funds than other demographic groups. Older adults are also targets of gambling marketing campaigns offering; free meals, hotel stays, rides to gambling sites and medication discount coupons. For these reasons, older adults may constitute a special risk group for pathological gambling. Research has linked poorer mental health and physical health to gambling problems but note that further evaluation of the phenomenon is needed. This secondary analysis sought to examine perceived physical health status in 40 older adults with lifetime pathological gambling using the SF-36 Health Survey. The current study compared participant's SF-36 scores to general population scores. The results indicate lower levels of perceived health in this population compared to United States norms. Specific areas of concern include physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality and mental health. Implications of these findings related to healthy aging are discussed. Word count 165.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related education
Public health or related nursing
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Compare perceived health correlates of 40 older adult recovering pathological gamblers with U.S. norms. 2. Identify 3 health correlates of older adult recovering pathological gamblers that jeopardize healthy aging in this population.

Keywords: Aging, Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I collected the data that will be described during my post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Iowa
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.