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Open Access 01-09-2015 | Original Paper

Prevalence and Correlates of Problem Gambling in a Representative Sample of Norwegian 17-Year-Olds

Authors: Daniel Hanss, Rune A. Mentzoni, Alex Blaszczynski, Helge Molde, Torbjørn Torsheim, Ståle Pallesen

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 3/2015

Abstract

We report data collected in a representative sample of 17-year-old Norwegians to investigate prevalence rates of non-problem, risk, and problem gambling, as measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). In addition, we explored the importance of demographic, personality, motivational, social, and health variables explaining variance in adolescent gambling. Prevalence rates of risk and problem gambling were low but similar to those found in previous studies outside of Norway using the PGSI in adolescent samples. With regard to the relative importance of the various covariates, we found that motivational variables (future gambling intentions, attitudes toward gambling, and gambling-related knowledge) distinguished best between those who did not gamble, non-problem gamblers, and risk and problem gamblers. Furthermore, social variables were important covariates of adolescent gambling; significant associations were found for family and friends’ approval of gambling, parental monitoring, father’s level of education, and having relatives or friends with a history of a gambling disorder. We discuss possible reasons for differences between the covariates with regard to their importance for explaining adolescent gambling and address implications for future research.

The sample includes responses to the survey that we received before April 1st 2013.

Note that some participants who had gambled during the previous month provided a value of less than 1 on the variable days played; perhaps, these participants had in mind that they had played less than a full day.

A closer inspection of the attitude variable revealed that, on average, participants had a slightly negative attitude toward gambling (mean sum score of M = 37.74, SD = 7.48; a sum score of 42 would represent a neutral attitude and a sum score greater than 42 a positive attitude).

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Title: Prevalence and Correlates of Problem Gambling in a Representative Sample of Norwegian 17-Year-Olds
Authors: Daniel Hanss
Rune A. Mentzoni
Alex Blaszczynski
Helge Molde
Torbjørn Torsheim
Ståle Pallesen
Publication date: 01-09-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 3/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-014-9455-4

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Prevalence and Correlates of Problem Gambling in a Representative Sample of Norwegian 17-Year-Olds

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