Similar motives? The relationship between reasons for drinking and gambling in a population sample

This study examined whether motives for drinking and gambling have a similar conceptual structure in a representative sample of adults. Since instruments that measure motives for gambling were developed based on drinking motives, the present study further examines whether similar underlying intentions exist more broadly across addictive behaviors or if underlying motivational processes are distinct. Three specific motivational concepts (coping, enhancement and social) have been associated with both drinking and gambling, but few studies have examined overlap in motives. This study applied confirmatory factor analysis with two instruments (Drinking Motives Questionnaire and the Gambling Motives Questionnaire – Financial) to assess whether a theoretically-informed model applied to a general population sample of adults 18 years and older (N = 740). Although combined drinking and gambling coping motives produced adequate fit, the best model supported separate underlying motives for drinking and gambling in this sample. The findings indicate limited overlap in motives for these two addictive behaviors; however, this could be related to the composition of the sample. Further research should examine a clinical sample of drinkers/gamblers. Results have implications for interventions and policy, in particular the importance of niche targeting of separate coping motives for problematic alcohol use and gambling.