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Adolescent Gambling Behaviour and Attitudes: A Prevalence Study and Correlates in an Australian Population

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Abstract

There is considerable evidence that a range of risk factors are associated with adolescent problem gambling. Using a representative sample of 2,788 eighth grade students in Victoria, Australia, the primary aim of this study was to examine the degree to which these risk factors are associated with different levels of adolescent gambling participation, rather than gambling at problematic levels. This study also aimed to obtain prevalence estimates of adolescent gambling and examine the gambling attitudes of adolescents. It was found that there were significant associations between different levels of gambling involvement and a range of risk factors. However, when all predictor variables were considered simultaneously in the prediction of higher involvement in gambling activities, only male gender, drinking alcohol, using marijuana, and few perceived rewards at school were statistically significant predictors. For males, the most important predictors for greater gambling involvement were other antisocial and risk-taking behaviours. In contrast, dissatisfaction with peers and school connectedness was important in predicting greater gambling involvement for females. The study shows the usefulness of a risk and protective factor approach to understanding gambling participation in an adolescent population and that there is much to be gained from understanding the nuances of gendered gambling behaviour in the context of studying gambling participation and attitudes rather than simply in the context of studying disordered or problematic gambling.

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Acknowledgements

This study was commissioned by the Victorian Department of Human Services and funded through the Community Support Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Alun C. Jackson & Nicki Dowling

  2. Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Alun C. Jackson

  3. Peking University, Beijing, China

    Alun C. Jackson & Shane A. Thomas

  4. Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Shane A. Thomas

  5. School of Primary Health, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Shane A. Thomas

  6. Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Shane A. Thomas

  7. Adolescent and Social Environments Program, Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children’s Hospital, University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Lyndal Bond

  8. Adolescent Health Research, Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    George Patton

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  1. Alun C. Jackson
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  2. Nicki Dowling
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  3. Shane A. Thomas
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Correspondence to Alun C. Jackson.

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Jackson, A.C., Dowling, N., Thomas, S.A. et al. Adolescent Gambling Behaviour and Attitudes: A Prevalence Study and Correlates in an Australian Population. Int J Ment Health Addiction 6, 325–352 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-008-9149-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-008-9149-1

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