Risk and protective factors study: data

Longitudinal research data collected at two yearly intervals starting in 2007. This research is concerned with the identification of risk and protective factors for problem gambling with a particular emphasis upon the role of depression and related psychological and behavioural problems for problem gambling. A priority of the research is to identify factors that are amenable to change in order that optimally effective interventions may be developed and delivered to individuals and groups that need them within the Australian community. It is also concerned with studying the co-morbidities that are frequently associated with problem gambling including alcohol and drug use and mental health issues, specifically including depression. Participants are interviewed using a questionnaire structured by published standardised tools, South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI), and DSM-IV, Diagnostic Criteria for Problem Gambling and the results analysed using SPSS. 2000 participant data interviews were collected in the initial set. In 2009, 900 initial participants were reinterviewed and 2000 new participants added. Nexis Research (market research company) completed the participant questionnaires and Shane Thomas and Sean Cowlishaw (Monash University) analysed the data.