Gambling and Problem Behavior Among 14- to 16-Year-Old Boys and Girls in Finland

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the associations between problem behavior and gambling frequency among eighth- and ninth-grade boys and girls (N = 101,167). Data were obtained from the cross-sectional School Health Promotion Study. Outcome measures were adolescents' truancy, bullying, delinquency, and substance use. Polychotomous logistic regression analyses were used to study the relationship between gambling frequency and risk behaviors in a total sample, as well as separately for boys and girls. In 2010, 62% of the adolescents had gambled during the previous year, and in 2011, 61% of the adolescents had done so. Engaging in different levels of truancy, bullying, delinquency, and substance abuse were associated with higher risks for frequent gambling. Similar patterns of associations were found among boys and girls. Adolescents who engaged in gambling on a daily or weekly basis were the most vulnerable group for problem behavior. However, even infrequent gambling was associated with different problem behaviors.

Compulsory school achievement and gambling among men and women aged 18–29 in Finland

“…Frequency was defined based on the type of game that occurred most often and recoded into two categories: 1) gambling weekly, and 2) gambling less often than weekly. We were interested in weekly gambling, because it is usually linked with disordered gambling [8] and other problem behaviours [14]. Those who participated on a weekly basis in lottery games only ( n = 48) were excluded because playing lotteries is generally viewed as a safe activity with little risk of harm [19].…”

“…Both ARPG and weekly gambling may be associated with harmful behaviours such as smoking and alcohol misuse, as well as with depression [7]. Some studies have shown gender differences in associations between gambling, depression and risk-taking behaviours [14,15], men being more at risk. There is also evidence of a gender difference in Grade Point Averages (GPAs) in the Finnish education system, with girls more frequently scoring higher GPAs than boys [16].…”

Social support as a mediator between problem behaviour and gambling: a cross-sectional study among 14–16-year-old Finnish adolescents

“…More detailed information about questions regarding problem behaviour can be found elsewhere 34. Since problem behaviour indicator included measures with multiple behaviour types and responses, which were not necessarily identically scaled, latent classes were estimated.…”

Psychosocial correlates in treatment seeking gamblers: Differences in early age onset gamblers vs later age onset gamblers

“…Journal of studies on alcohol, 62(5), 706-712. Any solvent / drug use (Manning et al, 2017); Unhealthy alcohol consumption (Welte, Barnes, Wieczorek, Tidwell, & Parker, (2001); Smoking (Manning et al, 2017) Childhood Experience Close family member drinking / gambling as you were growing up, negative family environment (Grant et al, 2009); Experience of bullying (Räsänen, Lintonen, & Konu, 2015); Sexual abuse (Dion, Collin-Vézina, De La Sablonnière, Philippe-Labbé,, & Giffard, 2010); or Witnessing violence (Roberts et al, 2016) Mental Health Co-occurring mental health disorder; sought treatment for a mental health disorder (Lorains, Cowlishaw, & Thomas, 2011) Gambling Behavior Form specificity (matter what you gambled on), need for…”