Gambling and Problem Gambling Among Young Adolescents in Great Britain

Abstract

International evidence suggests that problem gambling tends to be 2-4 times higher among adolescents as among adults and this proves to be true of Great Britain according to the latest adolescent prevalence survey. 8,958 British children (11-15) were surveyed in 201 schools during late 2008 and 2009. The questionnaire included a standard screen, DSM-IV-MR-J, to test for problem gambling. Our regression models explore influences of demographic, home and school characteristics on probabilities (both unconditional and conditional on being a gambler) of a child testing positive for problem gambling. More than 20% of children participated in gambling and, of these, nearly 8% tested positive. Age-group prevalence of problem gambling was 1.9%, compared with 0.6-0.9% in the most recent official adult surveys. Boys were much more likely than girls to gamble and to exhibit symptoms of problem gambling if they did. Generally, home characteristics, particularly parental attitude and example, dominated school characteristics in accounting for risks. Unanticipated findings included significantly elevated probabilities of problem gambling among Asian children and among children who live in a home without siblings. Child income was also a potent predictor of gambling and problem gambling.

Gender differences in the prospective association between maternal alcohol consumption trajectories and young adult offspring’s problem gambling at 30 years

“…The prevalence of any risk behaviour of problem gambling among male young adult offspring in our sample is consistent with previous studies (Forrest and McHale 2012; Scholes-Balog et al 2014). Among those who were determined as having some risk of problem gambling behaviours, more than 80 % had a high income and were single; and nearly two-thirds finished their secondary schooling.…”

“…Initially, we examined the crude association between the outcome variable (risk of problem gambling behaviours) and the main predictor (trajectories of maternal alcohol consumption). We subsequently adjusted the association using a range of covariates in different models to examine whether or not each predicting variable/group confounded the association as suggested by previous research (Delfabbro et al 2014; Forrest and McHale 2012; Hayatbakhsh et al 2013). We adjusted for mother’s age and educational level at baseline; mother’s income and marital status at the 14 year follow-up (Model 1); then included paternal alcohol related problems at 14 year follow-ups (Model 2); young adult’s socioeconomic characteristics at the 21 year follow-up (Model 3); and young adult’s alcohol consumption at 30 year follow-up (Model 4).…”

“…A range of factors have been associated with the risk of problem gambling among adolescents and young adults, such as gender, age, antisocial behaviours, academic performance, family socioeconomic status, parental gambling involvement (Barnes et al 2005; Delfabbro et al 2014; Forrest and McHale 2012; Shead et al 2010; Williams et al 2015), as well as alcohol consumption. It is not only the extent to which alcohol consumption normally coexists with gambling behaviours; it may also be an antecedent of problem gambling, suggesting considerable implications for intervention strategies.…”

Apuestas deportivas online: percepción adolescente y regulación publicitaria

“…Investigaciones previas Numerosos estudios previos apuntan una problemática incipiente que relaciona a los menores como un grupo especialmente vulnerable a poder desarrollar patologías asociadas a un uso desordenado del juego. Un estudio realizado en Reino Unido en 2008-2009 a 8.958 adolescentes con edades comprendidas entre los 11 y 15 años reveló un mayor índice de prevalencia entre los menores (1,9 %) que en relación a los individuos adultos (0,6-0,9%) (Forrest y McHale, 2012). Este hecho se relacionaba con las características del hogar, sobre todo con la actitud de los progenitores, mostrando ser factores de riesgo para desarrollar problemas de adicción (Cantero y Bertolín, 2015, p.37).…”

Concordance between gambling disorder diagnoses in the DSM-IV and DSM-5: Results from the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Disorders.

“…Because women develop and express gambling disorder differently than men (Blanco, Hasin, Petry, Stinson, & Grant, 2006; Ibáñez, Blanco, Moreryra, & Sáiz-Ruiz, 2003; Tavares, Martins, Lobo, Silveira, Gentil, & Hodgins, 2003), classifications systems may differentially impact the genders. Similarly, much controversy exists over the assessment and diagnosis of gambling disorder in youth and young adults, with vast differences in prevalence rates noted across surveys (Forrest & McHale, 2012; Volberg, Gupta, Griffiths, Olason, & Delfabbro, 2010; Welte, Barnes, Tidwell, & Hoffman, 2008). Racial and ethnic groups may also interpret criteria in different manners or express different symptoms associated with gambling disorder (Alegria, Petry, Hasin, Liu, Grant, & Blanco, 2009; Barry, Stefanovics, Desai, & Potenza, 2011a b).…”