Older Adults' Casino Gambling Behavior and Their Attitudes Toward New Casino Development.

Research on new casinos typically focuses upon their impact on the community, rather than on specific at-risk groups. This research study explores the impact of the opening of a new casino on attitudes of older adult casino patrons, especially those at particular risk of having gambling problems. Results demonstrate that over 80% of older adult casino patrons would not change their attitudes toward gambling or expect to increase their gambling as a result of the opening of a new casino. However, older adults with problem gambling issues are more likely to indicate they would visit a casino more, spend more time at a casino, and gamble more as a result of the opening of a new casino. In addition, older adults with signs of a gambling problem are more likely to say the opening of a new casino would change their opinions of gambling in general or casino gambling.

Risk Factors in Domestic Homicides: Identifying Common Clusters in the Canadian Context.

Little research has attempted to examine risk factor combinations when examining intimate partner violence. A variety of risk factors have been identified in domestic homicides, and it is recognized that risk of lethality may increase with the presence of more rather than less risk factors. This relationship is not necessarily linear, however. The objective of this study was to identify whether particular risk factor combinations are common in cases of domestic homicide. The study comprised 183 deaths that occurred between 2002 and 2012 and were reviewed by the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee, Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, Canada, with particular focus on the presence/absence of 40 empirically based risk factors. The analyses identified three distinct risk factor clusters that differed primarily by victim-perpetrator relationship and the likelihood of perpetrator suicide or attempts to commit suicide. Cases involving perpetrators currently in legal marriages or cohabitating with their victims were most common among the Non-Depressed/Non-Violent Cluster followed by the Depressed/Violent Cluster. In contrast, the majority of those in the Non-Depressed/Violent Cluster were estranged from their victims and the least likely to attempt/commit suicide. The study demonstrates that particular risk factor combinations are common in cases of domestic homicide. Future research should expand the number of risk factors examined, increase the sample size to further test cluster validity, and compare lethal and non-lethal intimate partner violence and homicide to allow for an examination of the clusters more unique to lethality. Prevention initiatives should emphasize the heterogeneity of domestic homicides and target specific interventions.

Distinct Places to Address Intimate Partner Violence.

The concept of place can be used to address intimate partner violence (IPV). Place, to geographers, is a concept that helps explain how human experiences shape a sense of meaning surrounding locations. Using a grounded theory approach and qualitative interviews with service providers, we present a case study exploring how Brantford social service agencies apply placemaking strategies and take advantage of the elements of place to reduce the harm associated with IPV. Six themes arose in the interviews. Home, the women's shelter, courts, and schools were found to represent unique areas where placemaking strategies help to reduce harm. Hair salons emerged as a unique place to reach victims, whereas prison was a place that encouraged offenders to make changes. These themes show the concept of place has the potential to add insights into how IPV can be reduced and the traumas facing victims addressed.