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Certain adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with an increased risk of problem gambling, with childhood sexual abuse associated with a two- to threefold higher risk of moderate gambling problems by young adulthood, according to new University of Bristol-led research. The findings are published in Addictive Behaviours Reports.

Previous studies have shown an association between ACEs and gambling harms. However, most studies have relied on retrospective reports of childhood experiences collected later in life or examined only particular forms of adversity such as physical or emotional abuse.

Researchers analyzed data from 3,794 participants in Bristol's Children of the 90s study, a large U.K. birth cohort that has followed 14,500 people since the early 1990s. The study recorded 10 types of ACEs, enabling the team to look at associations between these and moderate-risk or problem gambling at ages 17, 20 and 24.

The most frequently reported ACE was parental mental health problems or suicide, affecting 43% of participants, whereas the least reported ACE was sexual abuse, experienced by 5% of participants.

Sexual abuse showed the strongest association with gambling harm, while bullying, parental conviction and parental separation showed associations, but in a less uniform way. However, experiencing childhood adversity does not mean someone will develop gambling problems.

Overall, there was little evidence of associations between most ACEs and at least moderate-risk gambling. The main exception was sexual abuse, for which consistent associations were observed.

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