Gambling and Physical Intimate Partner Violence: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)

Background and Objectives: Links between intimate partner violence (IPV) and gambling problems are under researched in general population samples. Understanding these relationships will allow for improved identification and intervention. We investigated these relationships and sought to determine whether links were attenuated by axis I and II disorders. Methods: This study examined data from waves 1 and 2 (N=25,631) of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC); a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults. Gambling symptoms and other psychiatric disorders were measured at wave 1 by the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disability Interview Schedule-DSM-IV Version (AUDADIS-IV). Physical IPV victimization and perpetration in the last 12 months were assessed three years later at wave 2 using items from the Conflict Tactics Scale,- R. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine associations separately for males and females. Results: Problem gambling was associated with increased odds of both IPV perpetration for males (OR= 2.62, 95% CI= 1.22-5.60) and females (OR= 2.87, 95% CI= 1.29-6.42), and with IPV victimisation for females only (OR= 2.97, 95% CI= 1.31-6.74). Results were attenuated with inclusion of axis I and axis II disorders; links between gambling and IPV were weaker than those involving other mental health conditions. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: There are prospective associations with gambling problems and physical IPV which have implications for identification, spontaneous disclosure and treatment seeking. The links between gambling problems and violence are complex and should not be considered independently of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.