The Sydney Laval Universities Gambling Screen: Preliminary data

Authors: Blaszczynski, Alex¹; Ladouceur, Robert²; Moodie, Crawford³

Source: Addiction Research and Theory, Volume 16, Number 4, August 2008 , pp. 401-411(11)

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Abstract:

Current instruments used in epidemiological studies suffer serious methodological problems, one being the failure to properly conceptualize the constructs of problem and pathological gambling. The purpose of this study is to develop a brief single purpose survey instrument to identify prevalence rates and estimates for treatment services. The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and Sydney Laval Universities Gambling Screen (SLUGS) were administered to a sample of 2069 college and university students in Scotland. Results showed that 4% of respondents met criteria for probable pathological gambling. SOGS scores correlated significantly with rated level of problems but less than half (44%) of those meeting SOGS criteria indicated a need for treatment. Responses on the SLUGS indicated that impaired control and spending more time and money is a feature commonly reported among non-problem gamblers. The SLUGS may represent a useful brief single purpose screen for problem gambling and self-reported need for treatment.

Keywords: Gambling screen; gambling measures; pathological gambling; problem gambling; prevalence rate; gambling instrument

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16066350701699031

Affiliations: 1: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia 2: Ecole de Psychologie, Universite Laval, Ste-Foy, Quebec, Canada G1K 7P4 3: Department of Psychology, Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland

Publication date: 2008-08-01

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