Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Problem Gambling in Adolescents: An Examination of the Pathways Model

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Gambling Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This research tests the applicability of the Integrated Pathways Model for gambling to adolescent problem gamblers, utilizing a cross-sectional design and self-report questionnaires. Although the overall sample consisted of 1,133 adolescents (Quebec: n = 994, 87.7 %; Ontario: n = 139, 12.3 %: Male = 558, 49.5 %; Female = 569, 50.5 %), only problem gamblers were retained in testing the model (N = 109). Personality and clinical features were assessed using the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory, attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) using the Conners–Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scale, and the DSM-IV-MR-J and Gambling Activities Questionnaire to determine gambling severity and reasons for gambling. Latent class analysis concluded 5 classes, yet still provided preliminary support for three distinct subgroups similar to those proposed by the Pathways Model, adding a depression only subtype, and a subtype of problem gamblers experiencing both internalizing and externalizing disorders. ADHD symptoms were found to be common to 4 of the 5 classes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental health disorders (DSM-IV) (4th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR (4th ed.). Washington, DC: APA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagby, R., Vachon, D., Bulmash, E., Toneatto, T., Quilty, L., & Costa, P. (2007). Pathological gambling and the five-factor model of personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 873–880.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaszczynski, A. P., & Nower, L. (2002). A pathways model of problem and pathological gambling. Addiction, 97, 487–499.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blaszczynski, A. P., Steel, Z., & McConaghy, N. (1997). Impulsivity in pathological gambling: The antisocial impulsivist. Addiction, 92, 75–87.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnaire, C., Varescon, I., & Bungener, C. (2007). Sensation seeking in a French population of horse betting gamblers: Comparison between pathological and regular. Encephale, 33, 798–804.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, D. (2006). Impulsivity as a mediator in the relationship between depression and problem gambling. Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 5–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conners, C. K., & Wells, K. C. (1997). Conners-Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scale (CASS). Toronto, ON: Multi-Health Systems Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daughters, S. B., & Lejuez, C. W. (2005). The relationship among negative affect, distress tolerance, and length of gambling abstinence attempt. Journal of Gambling Studies, 21, 363–378.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Derevensky, J., & Gupta, R. (2004). Adolescents with gambling problems: A review of our current knowledge. e-Gambling: The Electronic Journal of Gambling Issues, 10, 119–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derevensky, J., Pratt, L., Hardoon, K., & Gupta, R. (2007). The relationship between gambling problems and impulsivity among adolescents: Some preliminary data and thoughts. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 1(3), 165–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, L., Derevensky, J., & Gupta, R. (2008). Youth gambling problems: An examination of risk and protective factors. International Gambling Studies, 8(1), 25–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, S. (1992). Measuring pathological gambling in children: The case of fruit machines in the U.K. Journal of Gambling Studies, 8, 263–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, S. (2000). Developing the DSM-IV-MR-J criteria to identify adolescent problem gambling in non-clinical populations. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16, 253–273.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerstein, D. R., Volberg, R. A., Toce, M. T., Harwood, H., Johnson, R. A., Buie, T., et al. (1999). Gambling impact and behavior study: Report to the national gambling impact study commission. Chicago, IL: National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

  • Gonzalez-Ibanez, A., Aymami, M. N., Jimemez, S., Domenech, J. M., Granero, R., & Lourido-Ferreira, M. R. (2003). Assessment of pathological gamblers who use slot machines. Psychological Reports, 93, 707–716.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. (1996). The relationship between gambling and video-game playing behavior in children and adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12, 375–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. (1997). An empirical examination of Jacobs’ general theory of addictions: Do adolescent gamblers fit the theory? Paper presented to the annual meeting of the national conference on compulsive gambling, New Orleans, LA, August.

  • Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. (2004). A treatment approach for adolescents with gambling problems. In J. Derevensky & R. Gupta (Eds.), Gambling problems in youth: Theoretical and applied perspectives (pp. 165–188). New York: Kluwer/Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, D. F. (2004). Youth gambling in North America: Long-term trends and future prospects. In J. Derevensky & R. Gupta (Eds.), Gambling problems in youth: Theoretical and applied perspectives. New York: Kluwer/Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ledgerwood, D. M., & Petry, N. (2006). Psychological experience of gambling and subtypes of pathological gamblers. Psychiatry Research, 144, 17–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Millon, T., Millon, C., Davis, R., & Grossman, S. (2006). The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). Minnesota: Pearson Assessments.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moodie, C., & Finnigan, F. (2005). A comparison of the autonomic arousal of frequent, infrequent and non gamblers while playing fruit machines. Addiction, 100, 51–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2008). Mplus (version 5.1) [computer software]. Los Angeles, CA.

  • National Research Council. (1999). Pathological gambling: A critical review. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nower, L., & Blaszczynski, A. (2004). A pathways approach to treating youth gamblers. In J. L. Derevensky & R. Gupta (Eds.), Gambling problems in youth. Theoretical and applied perspectives (pp. 189–209). New York: Kluwer/Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nylund, K. L., Asparouhov, T., & Muthen, B. O. (2007). Deciding on the number of classes in latent class analysis and growth mixture modeling: A Monte Carlo simulation study. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 14(4), 535–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petry, N. (2005). Pathological gambling. Etiology, co-morbidity and treatment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pietrzak, R. H., & Petry, N. M. (2005). Antisocial personality disorder is associated with increased severity of gambling, medical, drug, and psychiatric problems among treatment-seeking pathological gamblers. Addiction, 8, 1183–1193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rugle, L., & Melamed, L. (1993). Neuropsychological assessment of attention problems in pathological gamblers. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 18, 107–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sacco, P., Cunningham-William, R.-M., Ostmann, E., & Spitznagel, E. L. (2008). The association between gambling pathology and personality disorders. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 42, 1122–1130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, S. H., Zack, M., Collins, P., Klein, R. M., & Fragopoulos, F. (2008). Subtyping pathological gamblers on the basis of affective motivations for gambling: Relations to gambling problems, drinking problems, and affective motivations for drinking. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 22(2), 257–268.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Hamel, A., Derevensky, J., Dickson, L., & Gupta, R. (2007). Adolescent gambling and coping within a generalized high-risk behaviour framework. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23(4), 377–393.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Volberg, R., Gupta, R., Griffiths, M., Olason, D., & Delfabbro, P. (2010). An international perspective on youth gambling prevalence studies. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 22, 3–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rina Gupta.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gupta, R., Nower, L., Derevensky, J.L. et al. Problem Gambling in Adolescents: An Examination of the Pathways Model . J Gambl Stud 29, 575–588 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-012-9322-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-012-9322-0

Keywords

Navigation