Abstract

Background: To inform clinical treatment and preventative efforts, there is an important need to understand the
pathways to late-life gambling disorder. Aims: This study assesses the association between age-related physical
health, social networks, and problem gambling in adults aged over 65 years and assesses the mediating role of
affective disorders in this association. Methods: The sample comprised 595 older adults (mean age: 74.4 years, range:
65–94 years; 77.1% female) who were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to assess physical frailty, geriatric
pain, loneliness, geriatric depression, geriatric anxiety, and problem gambling. Results: Pathway analysis demonstrated
associations between these variables and gambling problems, providing a good fit for the data, but that
critically these relationships were mediated by both anxiety and depression symptoms. Conclusions: This study
indicates that late-life problem gambling may develop as vulnerable individuals gamble to escape anxiety and
depression consequent to deteriorating physical well-being and social support. When individuals develop late-life
problem gambling, it is recommended that the treatment primarily focuses upon targeting and replacing avoidant
coping approaches.