Family problems, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and being male are all associated with adolescent gambling problems, according to research published in the scientific journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.
The study surveyed 2,336 students, aged 13 to 19, from Ontario, Canada.
According to the study, 66% of the adolescents surveyed reported having gambled for money in the past year and 20% reported gambling at least once a week. Male adolescents were much more likely to be gamblers than females.
The study also found that 4.9% of the adolescents could be classified as having a gambling problem and another 8% could be classified as being at-risk for gambling addiction.
According to the authors, a lack of perceived social support is a risk factor for gambling problems. As they explain,
“Probable pathological and at-risk gamblers in this study reported feeling a lack of social support from both friends and family. Thus, it appears that lack of perceived social support may be a risk factor for the development of gambling related problems. Consequently, high perceived family and peer support appear to be protective factors against the development of gambling problems.”
Similarly, they also found that adolescents who reported having family problems or felt a lack of support from their family were at an increased risk of developing gambling problems. Adolescents with gambling problems also tended to have family members with an addiction to drugs or gambling.
Having a history of behavioral problems and the use of illicit drugs were also associated with adolescent gambling addiction.
Reference:
Hardoon, K.K., Gupta, R. & Derevensky, J.L. (2004). Psychosocial variables associated with adolescent gambling. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Vol 18, No 2: 170-179.
