Professor Gareth Roderique-Davies

Professor of Psychology | University of South Wales

Pontypridd, Wales, UNITED KINGDOM

His main areas of research address gambling addiction and alcohol-related brain damage.

Areas of Expertise (4)

Gambling

Addiction

Substance misuse

Craving

Biography

Professor Gareth Roderique-Davies is Professor of Psychology in the School of Psychology and Therapeutic Studies at the University of South Wales. He leads the University’s Addictions Research Group - and his main areas of research address gambling harm (and the need for this to be recognised as a public health issue) and alcohol-related brain damage ((and the need to understand the neurocognitive issues associated with alcohol).

Gareth is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and is a Health and Care Professions Council Registered Psychologist. He also works with the Cross-Party Group on Problem Gambling in the Welsh Parliament and is an expert adviser to the Welsh Government’s Substance Misuse Treatment Framework for Alcohol-related brain damage project board. He is involved with the Beat the Odds service to address disordered gambling, the Pobl Group (that works with those at risk of homelessness) and works closely with Alcohol Change UK.

Media Mentions (3)

Too much alcohol can cause similar effects to dementia – and the two are often confused

The Conversation online

2020-06-15

In the UK, 21% of people are drinking more alcohol than they did before the pandemic, according to a recent survey. This follows a reported 31% increase in alcohol sales at the start of lockdown.

Gambling needs tobacco-like regulation in sports advertising and sponsorship

The Conversation online

2019-09-23

Not that long ago UK sports fans could indulge their passions by watching the rugby league Silk Cut Challenge Cup, one day cricket’s Benson and Hedges Cup, or the Embassy World Snooker Championship. Not to mention the excitement and glamour of cars branded to look like Marlboro packets on wheels being driven on Formula 1 racetracks around the world.

Can Extreme Sports Become Addictive?

Psychology Today online

2019-04-03

Over the last few years, papers by Robert Heirene, David Shearer, and Gareth Roderique-Davies have looked at the addictive properties of rock climbing specifically concentrating on withdrawal symptoms and craving.

Education (2)

University of Wales, Swansea: Ph.D., Psychology 2001

University of Wales, Swansea: B.Sc., Psychology 1995

Affiliations (3)

Board Member, “Beat the Odds Initiative”, Cais Ltd.
Stage II Assessor, British Psychological Society qualification in Health Psychology
Psychologist Visitor with the UK Health and Care Professions Council

Links (4)

Articles (6)

Alcohol-Related Neurocognitive Disorders: A Naturalistic Study of Nosology and Estimation of Prevalence in South Wales, United Kingdom

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

2020 Existing studies relating to the prevalence of alcohol-related neurocognitive disorders (ARNDs; e.g., Korsakoff’s Syndrome, alcohol-related dementia) are now outdated and few have been undertaken in the United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ARNDs in South Wales, U.K., and determine the specific diagnostic terms and criteria used in clinical practice.

Gambling harm as a global public health concern: A mixed method investigation of trends in Wales

Frontiers in Public Health

2020 Recent research evidence has suggested that gambling is a public health concern. A number of studies report the association between gambling activity and increased instances of various other harms, including substance misuse and psychological disorders.

Embedded Gambling Promotion in Football: An Explorative Study of Cue-Exposure and Urge to Gamble

Journal of Gambling Studies

2020 Limited research has evaluated the psychological effect of sports-betting advertising (such as embedded promotion) upon consumers considered ‘higher-risk’. Students are often considered a higher-risk group given the numerous gambling-related risk factors associated with their lifestyle.

Investigating the impact of changing health messages on alcohol products

Journal of Substance Use

2020 Health warnings on alcohol labels can improve awareness regarding the risks of excessive drinking. However, the impact of labels on drinking behavior is debated in the literature. Study one aimed to examine what shoppers attend to when purchasing alcohol, whilst study two investigated the design and placement of health messages on alcohol labels.

Applications of within-stimulus errorless learning methods for teaching discrimination skills to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic review

Research in Developmental Disabilities

2020 Errorless learning is an instructional strategy used widely with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The present systematic review aims to update the literature on the application of ‘within-stimulus’ errorless procedures.

‘It’s basically everywhere’. Young Adults’ Perceptions of Gambling Advertising in the UK.

Health Promotion International

2020 In comparison to jurisdictions, such as Australia, limited research has focused upon the perceptions and reported effects of gambling advertising within the unique gambling environment of the UK.