Browsing by Author "McGrath, Daniel"
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Item Open Access Alberta Gambling Research Institute Conference 2018: Current Issues in Gambling Research(2018-04) Binde, Per; Christensen, Darren; Delfabbro, Paul; Dixon, Mike; Euston, David; Gainsbury, Sally; Hodgins, David; Johnson, Mark; Kairouz, Sylvia; Kim, Hyoun S. (Andrew); Leonard, Carrie; Manitowabi, Darrel; McGrath, Daniel; Mishra, Sandeep; Nicoll, Fiona; Parke, Jonathan; Smith, Garry; Stewart, Sherry; Volberg, Rachel; Wahsquonaikezhik, Sheila; Williams, Robert; Yakovenko, IgorThe Alberta Gambling Research Institute's 17th Annual Conference "Current Issues in Gambling Research" took place April 12-14, 2018 @ The Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Opening reception the evening of April 12, 2018.Item Open Access Alberta Gambling Research Institute Conference 2021: Gambling in Canada: Current Research & Future Directions(Alberta Gambling Research Institute, 2021-04) Baich, Eric; Belanger, Yale; Chamberlain, Erika; Christensen, Darren; Clark, Luke; Currie, Shawn; Derevensky, Jeffrey; Dixon, Darcy; Dixon, Mike; Euston, David; Hilbrecht, Margo; Hodgins, David; Kim, Andrew; Lautischer, Steve; Lee, Bonnie; Leonard, Carrie; Manitowabi, Darrel; Marshall, Murray; McGrath, Daniel; Nicoll, Fiona; Ofori-Dei, Samuel; Papineau, Elisabeth; Scholnick, Barry; Sévigny, Serge; Shead, Will; Simpson, Rob; Stevens, Rhys; Stewart, Sherry; Tabri, Nassim; Turner, Nigel; Wiebe, Jamie; Williams, Robert; Wohl, Michael J. A.; Yakovenko, Igor; Young, Matthew; Aidelbaum, Robert; Allen, Sasha; Baxter, David; Brazeau, Brad; Cowie, Megan; Dorchak, Danika; Dowson, Mackenzie E.; Ethier, Ashley R.; Gooding, Nolan; Gorenko, Julie; HeavyShield, Marley; Kim, Hyoun S. (Andrew); Kruger, Tyler B.; Larche, Chanel J.; Laskowski, Catherine S.; Leca, Jean-Baptiste; Leslie, Diandra; Mackey-Simpkin, Sean; Marchica, Loredana; Peel, Marie-Audrey; Piquette, Noëlla; Ritchie, Emma V.; Russell, Gillian; Schluter, Magdalen; Schoen, Anthony; Sharif-Razi, Maryam; Sontag, Roxanne; Stark, Sasha; Trottier, Maegan; Yi, SunghwanThe Alberta Gambling Research Institute's 20th Annual Conference "Gambling in Canada: Current Research & Future Directions" took place April 27-29, 2021 as a live virtual event. A selection of conference presentations and research posters presented at the event have been made available with the permission of the authors.Item Open Access A Comparison of Online Gamblers, Offline Gamblers, and Mixed Mode Gamblers on Gambling and Substance Use(2022-09) Slack, Braydon; McGrath, Daniel; Ellard, John; Hodgins, David; Smith, JacquelineThe rise in online gambling has led to greater research focus being directed toward the relationship between gambling modality and gambling behaviour. Such attention is warranted, given the significant increase in people turning to online gambling. It is currently known that mixed-mode gamblers (i.e., those who gamble online and offline) demonstrate the highest rate of disordered gambling and gambling frequency. Alcohol use has also been shown to be higher in mixed-mode gamblers, which presents a concern given the effects of alcohol on gambling behaviour. Further, mental health concerns have been shown to differ across gambling modalities. While research has begun to investigate gambling modality, more studies are required to better understand the relationship between gambling modality, substance use, and gambling behaviour. The present study explored the relationship between gambling modality, gambling behaviour, and substance use outcomes in greater depth. Specifically, 303 online, mixed-mode, and offline gamblers were surveyed on patterns of substance use, mental health concerns, and gambling severity, behaviour, and motives. Exploratory analyses were also conducted to investigate the role of COVID-19 in self-reported migration to online gambling. It was found that mixed-mode and online gambling are associated with greater gambling severity, frequency, and substance use. Further, scores on a gambling motives questionnaire were found to differ across gambling modality. Finally, results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced gambling behaviour, such that many participants self-reported migrating to online gambling. Overall, the results of this study suggest that a relationship exists between gambling modality, substance use, and gambling behaviour.Item Open Access Critical Issues in Gambling Research: Alberta Gambling Research Institute's 14th Annual Conference(2015-03) Arthur, Jennifer; Belanger, Yale D.; Casey, Emma; Christensen, Darren R.; Clark, Luke; Currie, Shawn; Delfabbro, Paul; Dixon, Mike J.; Harrigan, Kevin; Huang, Haifang; Lee, Bonnie; Leonard, Carrie A.; McGrath, Daniel; Ohtsuka, Keis; Parke, Jonathan; Smith, Garry; Steinke, Claudia; Volberg, Rachel A.; Walker, Gordon; Winstanley, Catharine A.; Wood, RichardThe Alberta Gambling Research Institute and the University of Lethbridge co-sponsored the fourteenth in a series of special interest conferences in the area of gambling studies. The conference theme was "Critical Issues in Gambling Research." The conference took place Friday, March 27, & Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the Banff Centre.Item Open Access Identifying the Role of Mediators and Moderators on the Relationship between Early Traumatic Experiences and Problematic Alcohol Use: A Systematic Review and Longitudinal Study(2023-05-18) Sharif-Razi, Maryam; Hodgins, David; Madigan, Sheri; McGrath, Daniel; Kopala Sibley, Daniel; Derevensky, JeffreyAbstract Introduction: Despite a robust association between early traumatic experiences (ETEs) and problematic alcohol use, there is a dearth of longitudinal studies that have directly investigated this relationship in adolescents. Furthermore, previous studies have neglected the effect of important mediating and moderating variables. The current project aims to bridge these gaps and expand the literature on the trauma-addiction link using two distinct studies. Methods: Study 1 consisted of a systematic review that investigated the relationship between ETEs and problematic alcohol use using longitudinal studies where temporality was established. Study 2 employed a longitudinal dataset to investigate the relationship between ETEs and problematic alcohol use in adolescents, with a focus on mediating (externalizing behaviours and internalizing behaviours) and moderating (sex) effects. The data was collected over the course of 5-years via questionnaires and in-person interviews and was analyzed using latent growth curve models. Results: In Study 1, six of the nine prospective studies demonstrated a significant positive relationship between ETEs and problematic alcohol use. In Study 2, the first model showed that higher trauma severity was significantly associated with greater problematic alcohol use severity at baseline. Further, growth in trauma severity was associated with significant growth in problematic alcohol use severity over time. The second model indicated there was a positive relationship between trauma and problematic alcohol use severity at baseline for both males and females, but that this relationship was significantly stronger in females. The final mediation model showed that internalizing and externalizing behaviours mediated the relationship between trauma and problematic alcohol use severity at baseline and over time. Conclusion: The results from these studies advance our understanding of the relationship between ETEs and the development of alcohol use problems later in life. Study 1 lends evidence to the notion that ETEs are a risk factor for problematic alcohol use. Study 2 showed that internalizing and externalizing behaviours mediate the relationship between ETEs and problematic alcohol use, making these behaviours a good target in treatment for trauma-exposed youth.Item Open Access Just Gambling? Ethical Challenges Pertaining to Gambling Provision, Policy and Research(2017-04) Abbott, Max; Banks, James; Belanger, Yale; Brown, Dan; Christensen, Darren; Hancock, Linda; Harrigan, Kevin; Johnson, Mark; Lund, Anna; Markham, Francis; McGrath, Daniel; Mutti-Packer, Seema; Nicoll, Fiona; Rockloff, Matthew; Rorie, Melissa; Sanders, James; Scholnick, Barry; Simpson, Rob; Williams, Robert; Wilsenach, André; Wohl, Michael16th Annual Conference "Just Gambling? Ethical Challenges Pertaining to Gambling Provision, Policy and Research" took place April 6-8, 2017 @ The Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Opening reception the evening of April 6, 2017.Item Open Access Orexin- and Drug-induced Potentiation of Dopamine Neurotransmission and Reward-related Behaviours(2021-01-14) Thomas, Catherine S.; Borgland, Stephanie, L.; Trang, Tuan; McGrath, DanielMesolimbic dopamine (DA) plays a pivotal role in orchestrating numerous motivated behaviours, including seeking and consumption of rewards and the attribution of motivational (incentive) value to reward-related stimuli, such as food and drug cues. Repeated exposure to drugs of abuse produces enduring changes in mesolimbic DA neurotransmission, including potentiated responses to future drug experiences, known as sensitization. A prominent theory of addiction proposes that sensitization of mesolimbic DA by drugs of abuse renders individuals hypersensitive to the motivational properties of drug stimuli (i.e., incentive sensitization), allowing them to gain powerful control over behaviour and ultimately driving addiction. However, it remains unknown how rapidly incentive value can be attributed to drug cues, or if previous drug exposure potentiates cue-evoked mesolimbic DA and attribution of incentive value to drug cues. Furthermore, the hypothalamic neuropeptide orexin (Ox), is hypothesized to sculpt mesolimbic DA and guide reward-related behaviours, including the drug-induced sensitization. However, the effects of endogenous Ox release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) on mesolimbic DA and reward - related behaviour remains to be characterized. Chapter 1 of this thesis critically evaluates literature regarding motivation and related neurobiology, the effects of drugs of abuse, current theories of addiction, and the influence of Ox. Chapters 2 and 3 of this thesis demonstrate that repeated exposure to drugs of abuse and orexin release in the VTA increase mesolimbic DA and reward-related behaviour. Firstly, pre-treatment with cocaine or the short-acting opioid remifentanil increases rapid attribution of incentive value to a cocaine or remifentanil cue. Secondly, remifentanil pre-treatment potentiates remifentanil-evoked and cue-evoked mesolimbic DA across a single Pavlovian conditioning session. Thirdly, endogenous Ox release in the VTA leads to place preference and increases motivated food-cue directed behaviour. Lastly, Ox release in the VTA potentiates electrically evoked mesolimbic DA. The significance, caveats, and wider implications of this work is discussed chapter 4.Item Open Access Promoting self-change in cannabis use disorder(2023-04-13) Schluter-Dixon, Magdalen Grace; Hodgins, David; McGrath, Daniel; Stea, JonathanA growing body of literature supports the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI) for the treatment of cannabis use disorder (CUD). But, most individuals will not seek treatment and available treatments are often only provided to more severe cases. The overarching aim of this dissertation was to advance our understanding of efficacious treatments for problematic cannabis use among individuals who wish to stop or reduce their use with minimal professional support. However, measurement of cannabis use has generally not kept pace with shifts in patterns and modes of engagement and measures that do capture the diversity of ways in which cannabis is used are not designed to track changes over time. As such, there was also a need for a self-report measure of cannabis use that is more representative of current patterns of recreational engagement than other measures and that can track changes over time in intervention studies. In Study 1, a systematic review was conducted. It summarized data from 42 randomized controlled trials to provide an updated overview of the psychological interventions for CUD in adults. Both in-person and remotely delivered treatment modes were included. Study 2 involved the development of the Cannabis Engagement Assessment (CEA), a self-report measure of past month cannabis use. Convergent validity, divergent validity, criterion reliability and test-retest reliability of the CEA were examined in a community and undergraduate sample. Results suggested that the CEA is a viable self-report measure of cannabis use that is representative of current patterns of recreational cannabis engagement. In Study 3, a brief self-directed treatment workbook for problematic cannabis use was developed and its clinical utility was tested among adults with problematic cannabis use and who wished to recover with minimal professional support. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (workbook, workbook + motivational interview, or waitlist control), and asked to complete follow-up assessments at 3- and 6-months post-baseline. Overall, results supported the utility of a brief self-directed workbook in combination with a single MI session at promoting changes in cannabis use. The results also lent preliminary support for the utility of the workbook itself.Item Open Access Reactive and Proactive Mechanisms of Response Inhibition in Gambling Disorder(2017) Sharif-Razi, Maryam; Goghari, Vina; Hodgins, David; Crockford, David; McGrath, Daniel; MacQueen, GlendaResponse inhibition, one component of cognitive control, refers to the ability to inhibit automatic responses and has been found to be impaired in gambling disorder. Recent models of cognitive control distinguish between two mechanisms: reactive (ability to stop in response to a stop-stimulus) and proactive control (ability to anticipate and prepare for a stop). Previous studies have focused on reactive modes of control in gambling disorder. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms of response inhibition in individuals with gambling disorder (n=27) and community controls (n=21) using a variant of the traditional stop-signal task. Second, the relationship between trait impulsivity, and reactive and proactive control was examined. No group differences in reactive or proactive control were found. However, one domain of trait impulsivity (premeditation) was associated with worse proactive control in the gambling group. Implications for impulsivity-focused approaches to treatment and future directions are discussed.Item Embargo Testing for a moderating effect of laboratory-induced acute stress on gambling-related attentional biases(2023-09-21) Cunningham, Daniel R.; Sears, Chris; McGrath, Daniel; Campbell, Tavis; Kim, Andrew (Hyounsoo); Stea, JohnathanGambling disorder is often accompanied by elements of disordered attentional processes which result in a bias for gambling-related stimuli. These attentional biases (AB) tend to positively correlate with the degree of disorder that an individual may experience and are therefore present (to a lesser extent) in individuals whose gambling involvement is not considered problematic. Stress is well-known to lower the threshold for the initiation of addictive behaviours and is associated with AB; however, the contextual and temporal relationship between a stressor and gambling-related ABs have not been well investigated. This study examined the moderating effects of acute stress induced in the laboratory with the anticipatory speech task (AST) on the relationship between problem gambling severity and AB for gambling-related imagery. ABs were measured as the fixation time toward gambling-related images vs. neutral images using eye-gaze tacking technology. Stress was assessed with subjective self-reports, using a 10-point visual analog scale, and physiological measures (heart rate, skin conductance, heart rate variability; HRV). Results from linear regression analyses indicated that subjective measures of stress significantly moderated the relationship between problem gambling severity and AB, whereas HRV was a marginally significant moderator. The overall AB observed was avoidance of gambling-related images, and this was most pronounced in at-risk gamblers who were least affected by the AST. In at-risk gamblers who experienced increases in stress from the AST, the avoidance bias was smaller (i.e., they attended to gambling-related images more than at-risk gamblers who did not experience an increase in subjective stress). Overall, these findings suggest that acute stress can quickly lead to an increase in preferential attention for gambling-related images in those who report problematic gambling habits.Item Open Access The Direct and Moderating Role of Humour Styles at Work: Organizational Citizenship Behaviours, Counterproductive Workplace Behaviours, Anxiety and Depression as Organizational Outcomes(2016) Comeau, Caitlin; Lee, Kibeom; McGrath, Daniel; Chapman, Derek; Hershcovis, SandyPast research suggests that a sense of humour plays a role in the workplace. The present study builds upon this work by exploring how individual differences in various positive and negative humour styles (affiliative, self-enhancing, self-defeating, aggressive humour) related to organizational citizenship behaviours, counterproductive workplace behaviours, and workplace anxiety and depression. Survey results from 190 employed undergraduate participants indicated that affiliative humour use is associated with reduced anxiety, depression and counterproductive workplace behaviours, and with increased engagement in organizational citizenship behaviours. In addition, self-enhancing humour moderated the relationship of organizational stressors with OCBs, anxiety and depression. In order to assess the interpersonal aspects of humour, convergence between self- and observer reported humour styles was examined. The relatively low correlation indicates we may need to move beyond the traditional measurement of self- and observer agreement to capture the unique variance of each perspective. Implications of these findings and future research directions are discussed.Item Open Access The Relationship Between Mood and Temporal Patterns of Attention as a Function of Depression Vulnerability(2016) Fernandez, Amanda; Sears, Christopher; Dobson, Keith; von Ranson, Kristin; McGrath, Daniel; Bulloch, AndrewCognitive theories propose that individuals who experience depression may have a latent vulnerability activated during stress that predisposes them to depression (Gotlib & Joormann, 2010). Previous studies found that dysphoric individuals exhibit a negative bias in their attention, attending to negative stimuli more than never depressed individuals and to positive stimuli less (e.g., Arndt et al., 2014). Few studies have examined attention in remitted depressed individuals. The present study examined attentional biases in never depressed, remitted depressed, and dysphoric women using eye-gaze tracking. Participants experienced either a neutral or sad mood induction (MI) and then their attention to images was recorded. There were no group differences in response to the sad MI; never depressed and remitted depressed women who received the sad MI increased their attention to positive images and decreased their attention to threat-related images. The absence of group differences between never depressed and remitted depressed are discussed.Item Open Access Three Essays on Customers in Waits.(2022-03) Lin, Yizhe; Agarwal, James; Mourali, Mehdi; Radford, Scott; Yang, Zhiyong; McGrath, DanielWaiting is an important topic that deserves more scholarly examination given its ubiquity, its substantial impact, and its diversity and complexity. This thesis attempts to offer firms potential solutions to waiting issues by investigating customers’ perceptions, thoughts, emotions, intentions, and behaviors in waits. Specifically, I examine customers’ perceptions and responses to waits in the service (Essay 1), customers’ decision-making about waiting for new products (Essay 2), and customers’ intention to delay their redemptions of rewards in loyalty programs (Essay 3). The selection of these three waiting scenarios covers the diversity inherent in waiting issues and yet sharing a commonality of ‘delay’. In the first essay, I propose that customers see service waits as both an inherent component of the service and an extra cost to the service, and I examine how these two perspectives shape customers’ responses to service waits. In the second essay, I found that customers’ decision to wait for the future product could be influenced by whether the product is introduced with an emphasis on hedonic or utilitarian aspect, and I reveal two distinct underlying mechanisms for the effect. In the third essay, I investigate customers’ redemption from the goal theory perspective, and I compare strategic customers, who delay redemptions for larger rewards, to non-strategic customers in the model.Item Open Access Understanding Gambling: Mechanisms and Predictors: Alberta Gambling Research Institute's 15th Annual Conference(2016-04) Bedford, Kate; Cunningham, John; Hing, Nerilee; Kayser, Andrew; Kim, Hyoun S. (Andrew); Leonard, Carrie A.; Lewis, Marc; Lister, Jamey J.; McGrath, Daniel; Nower, Lia; Philander, Kahlil; Prentice, Jennifer; Quigley, Leanne; Quilty, Lena C.; Scholnick, Barry; Shead, Will; Smith, Garry; Swan, Jennifer L.; Williams, Robert; Yakovenko, IgorThe Alberta Gambling Research Institute and the University of Calgary co-sponsored the fifteenth in a series of special interest conferences in the area of gambling studies. The conference theme was "Understanding Gambling: Mechanisms and Predictors." The conference took place Thursday, April 7, Friday, April 8, & Saturday, April 9, 2016 at The Banff Centre.