Abstract
The objectives of the study are: (a) to provide the first prevalence estimates of pathological gambling among Brazilian adolescents
using an age-specific instrument in a nationally representative sample; (b) to investigate the extent to which adolescents
participate in gambling activities in a developing country; and (c) to correlate different levels of gambling behavior with
demographic variables. Multistage cluster sampling selected 3,007 individuals over 14 years of age from Brazilian household
population. A total of 661 participants were between 14 and 17 years old. The Lie/Bet Questionnaire and the DSM-IV-MR-J were
used for assessing problem and pathological gambling. 2.8% scored positive on the screening questionnaire, while 1.6% were
classified as problem and pathological gamblers. Factors associated with problem and pathological gambling were male sex,
not currently studying and considering religion as not important. Less than 4 months elapsed between the age of regular gambling
involvement and the first gambling problem. Prevalence rates were quite similar from recent studies which used nationally
representative samples. The association of problem and pathological gambling with male sex, school drop-out and low religiosity
supports the Problem Behavior Theory. The fast progression to problem gambling adds evidence that adolescents may be more
vulnerable to the effects of gambling.
using an age-specific instrument in a nationally representative sample; (b) to investigate the extent to which adolescents
participate in gambling activities in a developing country; and (c) to correlate different levels of gambling behavior with
demographic variables. Multistage cluster sampling selected 3,007 individuals over 14 years of age from Brazilian household
population. A total of 661 participants were between 14 and 17 years old. The Lie/Bet Questionnaire and the DSM-IV-MR-J were
used for assessing problem and pathological gambling. 2.8% scored positive on the screening questionnaire, while 1.6% were
classified as problem and pathological gamblers. Factors associated with problem and pathological gambling were male sex,
not currently studying and considering religion as not important. Less than 4 months elapsed between the age of regular gambling
involvement and the first gambling problem. Prevalence rates were quite similar from recent studies which used nationally
representative samples. The association of problem and pathological gambling with male sex, school drop-out and low religiosity
supports the Problem Behavior Theory. The fast progression to problem gambling adds evidence that adolescents may be more
vulnerable to the effects of gambling.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10899-010-9236-7
- Authors
- Daniel Tornaim Spritzer, Psychiatry Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
- Luis Augusto Rohde, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria do Desenvolvimento para a Infância e Adolescência, Psychiatry Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
- Daniela Bumaguin Benzano, Psychiatry Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
- Ronaldo Ramos Laranjeira, Psychiatry Department, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
- Ilana Pinsky, Psychiatry Department, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
- Marcos Zaleski, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC Brazil
- Raul Caetano, Houston Health Science Center, University of Texas, Dallas, TX USA
- Hermano Tavares, Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Journal Journal of Gambling Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-3602
- Print ISSN 1050-5350