Relationship Between Gambling Severity and Attitudes in Adolescents: Findings from a Population-Based Study

Abstract

This study used a nationally representative sample of 14,910 high school adolescents, aged 15-19 years. The large sample size presents a unique opportunity to evaluate firstly the geographical distribution of gambling prevalence, secondly, on a subsample of 5,920 adolescents, we studied the association of "no-problem-gambling", "at-risk gambling" and a relatively rare condition, "problem gambling", with demographic, environmental and behavioral variables. It differs from other studies due to the broad sample, thus enabling the combined analysis of the above variables that typically have only been studied separately. This integrated analysis, involving multiple variables, individual and environmental, allows the control of important covariates. Multivariate analysis showed that at-risk/problem gamblers were more likely to be engaged in behaviors contrary to social rules/law including heavy episodic drinking, tranquillizer/sedatives use as well as to approve gambling and have friends who gamble. It's important to emphasize that risk-perception is not related to gambling. Furthermore, the great geographical variability of at-risk and problem-gambling rates suggest that social aspects have to be considered. Currently universal prevention specifically targeting gambling is lacking, thus an associative model such as social analysis have been implemented in this study, in order to construct the basis for the design of a future prevention program based on scientific results and thus having important implications for implementation within community based activities. Prevention is fundamental: 53.5% of underage individuals have engaged in gambling even though legislation attempts to restrict access.

Identifying the Relationship Between Mental Health Symptoms, Problem Behaviors and Gambling Among Adolescents

“…These findings confirm the association between gambling behaviors with a range of externalizing and internalizing symptoms [25,27,28,29,33,38]. The results emphasize the importance of aggressive and depressive problems in enhancing the risk for both PG and frequent gambling within both males and females.…”

“…As assessed by the PSS, delinquent problems include breaking laws, skipping school, and lying. This is in congruence with the DSM-IV categorization of PG which indicates lying about past gambling as a primary symptom of PG [27,44]. As lying is a core aspect of both delinquent behaviours and PG, it would be expected that [34].…”

“…Aggressive problems measured through the PSS include arguing with others, getting into fights, getting angry, and substance use. Consequently, these results are to be expected as rates of substance-use and antisocial behaviors are typically higher in adolescents who gamble [27,32]. Of note, high aggressive problems revealed females to be 5 times more likely and males 3.6 times more likely to be frequent gamblers.…”

“…The impact of age revealed that high delinquent problems resulted in youth aged 10-12 year olds being 9.2 times more likely to be frequent gamblers, followed by 13-15 year olds (5.8 times more likely) and 16-19 year olds (3.7 times more likely). It is possible that younger individuals who gamble illegally are more prone to a broader range of other rule breaking behaviors [27,28]. As a result, higher delinquent problems in younger individuals may be an overall risk factor for problematic gambling in youth.…”

“…For example, rates of anxiety, depression, low selfesteem, delinquency and substance use have been reported to be significantly higher in adolescents who gamble [25][26][27][28][29]. Disordered gambling has also been associated with increased rates of conduct problems, anti-social behaviors, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and internalizing disorders in youth [30][31][32][33][34].…”