The Effects of Gambling on Health and Well-Being
Gambling is the wagering of something of value on a random event, where instances of strategy are discounted. It can involve anything from a game of chance to betting on the outcome of an event, such as the stock market. While some people develop gambling problems, most people can gamble responsibly. But for a small percentage of people, problem gambling can affect relationships, work and even their health and well-being.
Historically, most research on gambling has focused on economic costs and benefits, as these are relatively easy to quantify. However, it is important to consider other impacts, including interpersonal and community/societal level impact, which are harder to quantify. These impacts include health and well-being, family and social relations, and community/societal cohesion, among others.
For some people, gambling can serve as an effective coping mechanism for unpleasant emotions, such as boredom, loneliness, anxiety, stress and depression. However, there are better and healthier ways to relieve these feelings, such as spending time with friends who don’t gamble, exercising, taking up a new hobby or practicing relaxation techniques.
For example, in some cases, elderly people may feel bored or lonely in long-term care facilities, and they might be attracted to the opportunity to gamble on their mobile devices. While this could help improve their quality of life, it’s important to ensure that the opportunities to gamble are limited and supervised. This will prevent gambling from becoming a disruptive behavior for the residents of these homes and minimize the potential negative effects on their mental health.