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Young Adult Gambling Behaviors and their Relationship with the Persistence of ADHD

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Abstract

Young adulthood is a period renowned for engagement in impulsive and risky behaviors, including gambling. There are some indications that young adults exhibit higher gambling rates in comparison to older adults. Problem gambling has also been linked to ADHD. This longitudinal study examines the relationship between gambling and ADHD among an epidemiological sample of young adults (n = 235; males = 179, females = 56) aged 18-24. Results indicate that individuals who report childhood ADHD symptoms which persist into young adulthood experience greater gambling problem severity than participants with no ADHD or those with non-persistent ADHD.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse grants DA12995 and DA14717 (Winters).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, F256/2B West, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Jessie L. Breyer, Andria M. Botzet, Ken C. Winters, Randy D. Stinchfield, Gerald August & George Realmuto

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  1. Jessie L. Breyer
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  2. Andria M. Botzet
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  3. Ken C. Winters
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  4. Randy D. Stinchfield
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  5. Gerald August
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  6. George Realmuto
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Correspondence to Jessie L. Breyer.

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Breyer, J.L., Botzet, A.M., Winters, K.C. et al. Young Adult Gambling Behaviors and their Relationship with the Persistence of ADHD. J Gambl Stud 25, 227–238 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-009-9126-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-009-9126-z

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