The Canadian Problem Gambling Index: Factor Structure and Associations With Psychopathology in a Nationally Representative Sample

This study examined the factor structure of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI), a measure used to assess severity of gambling behaviour in the general population. It subsequently looked at its associations with past-year psychopathology using a subsample (n = 742) of moderate-to-high-risk problem gamblers within the large, nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 1.2 sample. An exploratory analysis found support for a unifactorial model of the CPGI. Positive associations between problem gambling and various past-year disorders and mental health behaviours were found, with the strongest association being for suicide attempts. These findings help to define the range of maladaptive behaviours associated with problem gambling and their mental health correlates in the Canadian population.