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Trajectories of Gambling During Adolescence

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Abstract

This study aimed at empirically identifying groups of adolescents with distinct longitudinal trajectories of gambling involvement and validating these groups by comparing them with respect to correlates. 903 low SES boys were followed annually from age 11 to 16 years. Three groups were found: an early-onset high-level chronic group, a late-onset high-level group, and a low gambler group. The Chronic group and the Low group consistently differed on teacher-rated inhibition (i.e., anxiety) during childhood and early adolescence. They also differed on concurrent teacher and self ratings of disinhibition (i.e., impulsivity), while the Late Onset group appeared to lie in between these groups. Compared to the Low group, both high groups subsequently had elevated scores on later gambling related problems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit on Children's Psycho-social Maladjustment, University of Montreal, 3050 Edouard-Montpetit Blvd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3T 1J7

    Frank Vitaro

  2. University of Montreal, Canada

    Brigitte Wanner

  3. Laval University, Canada

    Robert Ladouceur

  4. University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada

    Mara Brendgen

  5. University of Montreal, Canada

    Richard E. Tremblay

Authors
  1. Frank Vitaro
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  2. Brigitte Wanner
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  3. Robert Ladouceur
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  4. Mara Brendgen
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  5. Richard E. Tremblay
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Correspondence to Frank Vitaro.

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Vitaro, F., Wanner, B., Ladouceur, R. et al. Trajectories of Gambling During Adolescence. J Gambl Stud 20, 47–69 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOGS.0000016703.84727.d3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOGS.0000016703.84727.d3

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