The winner takes it all? Characteristics of adolescents at-risk/problem gamblers in Switzerland

Lehmann, Susanne; Akré, Christina; Berchtold, André; Flatz, Aline; Suris, Joan-Carles (2016). The winner takes it all? Characteristics of adolescents at-risk/problem gamblers in Switzerland. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 29(5) De Gruyter 10.1515/ijamh-2015-0100

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Background: Gambling has and still entertains people in almost all societies throughout the world. Western societies have faced considerable changes in the amount and accessibility of gambling possibilities during the last decades, and the rates of both adolescent gamblers and problem gamblers have increased significantly.

Objective: To determine the characteristics of at-risk and problem adolescent gamblers in Switzerland.

Subjects: The study population consisted of 3134 students (1669 females) attending post-mandatory education in 15 randomly chosen centres. Participants were divided into non- (n=2207), non-problematic (n=754) and at-risk/ problematic gamblers (n=176).

Methods: Both gambling groups were compared to non-gamblers on socio-demographic measures, substance use and Internet use. Overall, 29.6% had gambled during the past year and 5.6% had gambled in a risky or problematic way. Compared to non-gamblers and after controlling for potential confounders, non-problem gamblers were significantly more likely to be male, apprentices and to misuse alcohol. At-risk/problematic gamblers were additionally more likely to smoke cannabis, to be problematic Internet users and to be non-Swiss than non-gamblers.

Conclusion: At-risk and problematic adolescent gambling is associated with other health risk behaviours. Health practitioners should include gambling in the psycho-social screening and preventive counselling of adolescents.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

UniBE Contributor:

Lehmann, Susanne

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services

ISSN:

0334-0139

Publisher:

De Gruyter

Language:

English

Submitter:

Susanne Lehmann

Date Deposited:

20 Jun 2016 16:35

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:55

Publisher DOI:

10.1515/ijamh-2015-0100

PubMed ID:

26812769

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.81073

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/81073

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