Abstract
This research tests the applicability of the Integrated Pathways Model for gambling to adolescent problem gamblers, utilizing a cross-sectional design and self-report questionnaires. Although the overall sample consisted of 1,133 adolescents (Quebec: n = 994, 87.7 %; Ontario: n = 139, 12.3 %: Male = 558, 49.5 %; Female = 569, 50.5 %), only problem gamblers were retained in testing the model (N = 109). Personality and clinical features were assessed using the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory, attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) using the Conners–Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scale, and the DSM-IV-MR-J and Gambling Activities Questionnaire to determine gambling severity and reasons for gambling. Latent class analysis concluded 5 classes, yet still provided preliminary support for three distinct subgroups similar to those proposed by the Pathways Model, adding a depression only subtype, and a subtype of problem gamblers experiencing both internalizing and externalizing disorders. ADHD symptoms were found to be common to 4 of the 5 classes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental health disorders (DSM-IV) (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR (4th ed.). Washington, DC: APA.
Bagby, R., Vachon, D., Bulmash, E., Toneatto, T., Quilty, L., & Costa, P. (2007). Pathological gambling and the five-factor model of personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 873–880.
Blaszczynski, A. P., & Nower, L. (2002). A pathways model of problem and pathological gambling. Addiction, 97, 487–499.
Blaszczynski, A. P., Steel, Z., & McConaghy, N. (1997). Impulsivity in pathological gambling: The antisocial impulsivist. Addiction, 92, 75–87.
Bonnaire, C., Varescon, I., & Bungener, C. (2007). Sensation seeking in a French population of horse betting gamblers: Comparison between pathological and regular. Encephale, 33, 798–804.
Clark, D. (2006). Impulsivity as a mediator in the relationship between depression and problem gambling. Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 5–15.
Conners, C. K., & Wells, K. C. (1997). Conners-Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scale (CASS). Toronto, ON: Multi-Health Systems Inc.
Daughters, S. B., & Lejuez, C. W. (2005). The relationship among negative affect, distress tolerance, and length of gambling abstinence attempt. Journal of Gambling Studies, 21, 363–378.
Derevensky, J., & Gupta, R. (2004). Adolescents with gambling problems: A review of our current knowledge. e-Gambling: The Electronic Journal of Gambling Issues, 10, 119–140.
Derevensky, J., Pratt, L., Hardoon, K., & Gupta, R. (2007). The relationship between gambling problems and impulsivity among adolescents: Some preliminary data and thoughts. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 1(3), 165–172.
Dickson, L., Derevensky, J., & Gupta, R. (2008). Youth gambling problems: An examination of risk and protective factors. International Gambling Studies, 8(1), 25–47.
Fisher, S. (1992). Measuring pathological gambling in children: The case of fruit machines in the U.K. Journal of Gambling Studies, 8, 263–285.
Fisher, S. (2000). Developing the DSM-IV-MR-J criteria to identify adolescent problem gambling in non-clinical populations. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16, 253–273.
Gerstein, D. R., Volberg, R. A., Toce, M. T., Harwood, H., Johnson, R. A., Buie, T., et al. (1999). Gambling impact and behavior study: Report to the national gambling impact study commission. Chicago, IL: National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.
Gonzalez-Ibanez, A., Aymami, M. N., Jimemez, S., Domenech, J. M., Granero, R., & Lourido-Ferreira, M. R. (2003). Assessment of pathological gamblers who use slot machines. Psychological Reports, 93, 707–716.
Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. (1996). The relationship between gambling and video-game playing behavior in children and adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12, 375–394.
Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. (1997). An empirical examination of Jacobs’ general theory of addictions: Do adolescent gamblers fit the theory? Paper presented to the annual meeting of the national conference on compulsive gambling, New Orleans, LA, August.
Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. (2004). A treatment approach for adolescents with gambling problems. In J. Derevensky & R. Gupta (Eds.), Gambling problems in youth: Theoretical and applied perspectives (pp. 165–188). New York: Kluwer/Plenum.
Jacobs, D. F. (2004). Youth gambling in North America: Long-term trends and future prospects. In J. Derevensky & R. Gupta (Eds.), Gambling problems in youth: Theoretical and applied perspectives. New York: Kluwer/Plenum.
Ledgerwood, D. M., & Petry, N. (2006). Psychological experience of gambling and subtypes of pathological gamblers. Psychiatry Research, 144, 17–27.
Millon, T., Millon, C., Davis, R., & Grossman, S. (2006). The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). Minnesota: Pearson Assessments.
Moodie, C., & Finnigan, F. (2005). A comparison of the autonomic arousal of frequent, infrequent and non gamblers while playing fruit machines. Addiction, 100, 51–59.
Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2008). Mplus (version 5.1) [computer software]. Los Angeles, CA.
National Research Council. (1999). Pathological gambling: A critical review. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Nower, L., & Blaszczynski, A. (2004). A pathways approach to treating youth gamblers. In J. L. Derevensky & R. Gupta (Eds.), Gambling problems in youth. Theoretical and applied perspectives (pp. 189–209). New York: Kluwer/Plenum.
Nylund, K. L., Asparouhov, T., & Muthen, B. O. (2007). Deciding on the number of classes in latent class analysis and growth mixture modeling: A Monte Carlo simulation study. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 14(4), 535–569.
Petry, N. (2005). Pathological gambling. Etiology, co-morbidity and treatment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.
Pietrzak, R. H., & Petry, N. M. (2005). Antisocial personality disorder is associated with increased severity of gambling, medical, drug, and psychiatric problems among treatment-seeking pathological gamblers. Addiction, 8, 1183–1193.
Rugle, L., & Melamed, L. (1993). Neuropsychological assessment of attention problems in pathological gamblers. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 18, 107–112.
Sacco, P., Cunningham-William, R.-M., Ostmann, E., & Spitznagel, E. L. (2008). The association between gambling pathology and personality disorders. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 42, 1122–1130.
Stewart, S. H., Zack, M., Collins, P., Klein, R. M., & Fragopoulos, F. (2008). Subtyping pathological gamblers on the basis of affective motivations for gambling: Relations to gambling problems, drinking problems, and affective motivations for drinking. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 22(2), 257–268.
van Hamel, A., Derevensky, J., Dickson, L., & Gupta, R. (2007). Adolescent gambling and coping within a generalized high-risk behaviour framework. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23(4), 377–393.
Volberg, R., Gupta, R., Griffiths, M., Olason, D., & Delfabbro, P. (2010). An international perspective on youth gambling prevalence studies. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 22, 3–38.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gupta, R., Nower, L., Derevensky, J.L. et al. Problem Gambling in Adolescents: An Examination of the Pathways Model . J Gambl Stud 29, 575–588 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-012-9322-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-012-9322-0