Our results show that the first lockdown had a negative impact on the mental health of all participants, not only the potential problem gambler group. This is particularly concerning for the gamblers already experiencing significantly higher levels of depression, stress, and anxiety, which appear to have been exacerbated by lockdown.
Author Professor Sir John Strang, Director of the National Addiction Centre and Head of the Addictions Department at Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London
25 January 2021
The significant effect of lockdown on gambler's mental health
King’s College London study assesses the potential impacts of COVID-19 nationwide lockdown on longer term depression, anxiety, and stress in gamblers in the UK.
Gambling in the UK
The 2020 House of Lords report ‘Gambling Harm – Time for Action’ reported that half the adults in the UK gamble at least once a month. A third of a million of UK citizens are “problem” or “disordered” gamblers.
The UK COVID-19 lockdown implemented in March 2020 impacted people and society greatly. Gamblers were potentially at greater risk of gambling-related harm as lockdown can exacerbate established risk factors for disordered gambling including social isolation, lack of social support, boredom and financial insecurity.
A King’s College London led study recruited over 1,000 participants, all of whom were adhering to some level of social distancing, to take part in an online survey during the April 2020 lockdown.
Participants had their problem gambling status measured through the Brief Problem Gambling Screen (BPGS) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS21).
Participants were split into:
- Non-Gamblers: (Those that did not report any gambling)
- Non-Problem Gamblers: (Those who gambled, but did not indicate any gambling related problems (e.g. a score of 0 on the BPGS)
- Potential Problem Gamblers: (Those who scored 1 or more on the BPGS, hence indicate the potential for gambling related problems).
Mental health in gamblers during lockdown
Researchers found that depression, stress and anxiety has increased across Non-Gamblers, Non-Problem Gamblers and Potential Problem Gamblers.
Levels of depression, stress, and anxiety remained highest in Potential Problem Gamblers both before and during the first lockdown. Potential Problem Gamblers had significantly higher baseline levels of depression pre-lockdown, and significantly higher during lockdown depression scores, consistent with previous research that shows higher levels of depression in gamblers.
For all participants, reported levels of depression, stress, and anxiety increased between pre- and during-lockdown. Potential Problem Gamblers reported significant increases levels of depression while Non-Problem Gamblers showed significant increases in both anxiety and stress levels across lockdown.
This study provides a foundation for assessing and measuring the continuing and longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on longer term depression, anxiety, and stress in gamblers in the UK.
Risks to gamblers
Depression, stress, and anxiety disorders are common in people who gamble.
Lead author, Dr Steve Sharman, Research Fellow at Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, said: “There is a possibility that the increase in depression and anxiety in gamblers and non-gamblers could result in an increase in demand for mental health services.”
Our study provides a foundation for assessing and measuring the continuing and longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on longer term depression, anxiety, and stress in gamblers in the UK. These immediate impacts are from the first 4-6 weeks of lockdown 1 – as we adapt to lockdown three, data collection will soon be underway to establish the longer-term implications of the past 12 months.
Lead author, Dr Steve Sharman, Research Fellow at Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London
This study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). The paper was published today in Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Contact
To find out more or to arrange interviews, please contact the Communications team at NIHR Maudsley BRC:
- Alex Booth, Communications and Engagement Manager, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, Tel 020 7848 0495 alex.booth@kcl.ac.uk
- Serena Rianjongdee, Communications and Engagement Officer, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, Tel 020 7848 2137 serena.rianjongdee@kcl.ac.uk
