Exploring pathways to gambling: Proposing the Integrated Risk and Protective Factors Model of Gambling Types

Three linked studies, testing key aspects of the Pathways towards Problem and Pathological Gambling Model (Blaszczynski & Nower, 2002), are presented. Study one comprised 204 students and 490 gambling forum users. It predicted differences in gambling severity, mental health and substance use across different motives for gambling. Those with a primary social motive for gambling displayed less severe gambling and anxiety than those without, with the primary coping subgroup displaying the most anxiety and depression. Those who gambled primarily to enhance positive affect reported severe gambling. Study two comprised 404 gambling forum users and 265 students. Similar groups to the Pathways Model emerged, with a behaviourally conditioned and an emotionally vulnerable group. Unexpectedly, however, those in the emotionally vulnerable group reported more severe cognitive distortions than the behaviourally conditioned group. The final study, 378 gambling forum users and 201 students found, as predicted, that three distinct gambling groups emerged; 1.) those with lower levels of psychopathology and higher levels of protective factors; 2.) those with heightened pre-existing anxiety and depression, and moderate levels of protective factors; and 3.) those with heightened impulsivity, psychopathology, offending behaviour and the least protective factors. Three gambling groups are consequently presented (Social Gambler; Affect-Regulation Gambler; Antisocial Gambler) alongside the proposed Integrated Risk and Protective Factors Model of Gambling Types (IRPF-MGT). Directions for future research and implications for practice are outlined

Exploration of emotion regulation experiences associated with borderline personality features in a non-clinical sample

Background Emotion dysregulation is a core feature associated with borderline personality features (BPF). Little research has explored how individuals with high levels of BPF regulate their emotions. This study aimed to explore how individuals with high versus low levels of BPF compare on the strategies they use to regulate emotions and in their experiences of emotion regulation. Methods Twenty-nine university students were recruited and assessed for the presence of BPF using self-report questionnaires. Each participant took part in a semi-structured interview about their experiences of emotion regulation. All interview transcripts then underwent thematic analysis. In addition chi square analyses were conducted to explore the association between level of BPF (High vs Low) and each qualitative theme identified. Results Findings indicated similarities in the types of emotion regulation strategies used by the high and low-BPF groups. However, the groups differed in their experiences and thought processes surrounding emotion regulation. High-BPF participants were found to describe a need to communicate negative emotions with others and demonstrated difficulty maintaining attention on positive experiences. In addition there was a trend towards High-BPF participants demonstrating less forward-planning in emotion regulation. Conclusions This study provides insights into some of the unique aspects of emotion regulation in individuals with high BPF that may make emotion regulation attempts less successful

Criminalising Black Trauma: Grime and Drill Lyrics as a Form of Ethnographic Data to Understand “Gangs” and Serious Youth Violence

Background: The criminalisation of drill music, a rap-based genre, is a recent chapter in a long history of policing “Black” music. The association of drill and other rap music with “gang” violence has a direct impact on the treatment of Black boys and men in the criminal justice system. However, critics argue that, rather than causing violence, violent lyrics reflect the lived experiences of marginalised communities. Method: Using a qualitative approach, this study analysed the lyrical content of 90 drill, grime, and other rap-based songs by UK artists, using thematic analysis. Findings: The following themes were found: social issues in the local area and community, involvement in crime, social status, coping with adversity, social support network, police, and escaping. Collectively, the themes highlight a narrative of Black boys and men who have experienced a range of adversities such as poverty, racism, child criminal exploitation, and community violence. Conclusions: Artists who make reference to drugs and violence in their lyrics also discuss adverse experiences and the impact of these, supporting the view that violent lyrics are a reflection of lived experience. Thus, focusing on criminalising rap music may be deflecting attention from risk factors for serious youth violence that are evidence-based

County Lines & Criminal Exploitation of UK University Students

This report details findings from FOI requests and questionnaire responses from UK university students, investigating the prevalence of county lines and criminal exploitation within UK university students. All data was collected in March 2022 and April 2022. The project was funded by University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) Centre for Criminal Justice Research & Partnerships pump prime funding

Anger expression and suppression at work: causes, characteristics and predictors

Purpose: The current study aims to explore the causes, characteristics and consequences of workplace anger expression and suppression, with an additional aim of testing the emotional dimension of Affective Events Theory. Design/methodology/approach: Participants (n=187) from management and non-management positions completed an event-contingent anger diary over a period of four working weeks, alongside measures on trait anger and job satisfaction. Findings: Over fifty per cent of the sample disclosed anger causing events. In keeping with Affective Events Theory disposition was important, with trait anger higher in those disclosing anger causing events. There appeared a range of factors predicting the expression of anger, with these focused primarily on individual issues and pre-existing emotion rather than work characteristics. Practical implications: Originality/value: Through consideration of management and non-management workers and by using a longitudinal design, the study highlights the importance of individual factors in understanding workplace anger. It notes the value in focusing on discrete emotion. The findings offers clear direction for future research that could assist with enhancing models of workplace emotion, particularly if the aim is to account for discrete emotions

Project SET-Bullying: Exploring the relationship between the effectiveness of school-based anti-bullying interventions and time

Introduction Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of school-based anti-bullying interventions (SBABI). However, their evolution over time has not been studied. The SET-Bullying project aimed to further explore this question by performing a secondary data analysis on data used for the evaluation of the effectiveness of 2 SBABIs. Methodology Scores of pupil self-reported frequencies of being bullied and bullying others were analysed using mixed effect models, taking into account pupil gender, school type (primary vs secondary), and the hierarchical and longitudinal structure of the data. Three models were fitted: (1) making no assumption on the evolution of effectiveness over time (time as a categorical variable), (2) assuming a linear evolution (time as a continuous variable with a linear term), and (3) assuming a minimal evolution at early study measurements and a sharper evolution later (time as a continuous variable with both linear and quadratic terms). Results The three models gave similar results. The model with the quadratic term seemed to fit the data slightly better compared to the other two. The magnitude and shape of the evolution differed by score, school type, and pupil gender. The observed patterns were either a linear evolution of effectiveness over time or a “delayed effect” after 24 months since baseline. Conclusions Taking into consideration the possibility of a “delayed effect” when designing and evaluating SBABIs allows to select the appropriate SBABI components and evaluation schedules. Thus, both SBABIs can become more efficient and evaluation practices can allow for the effectiveness to be observed