No abstract

Although, compared to boys, adolescent girls gamble less often and less problematically, prevalence studies still show significant numbers of at risk/problem gamblers among girls. However, girl gambling has been on the sidelines of adolescent gambling research. The available studies usually focus only on a narrow set of correlates often ignoring that adolescent gambling is a complex phenomenon determined by various factors. Also, they often measure gambling related consequences with instruments that are not specifically developed for use on adolescents. In order to contribute to a better understanding of adolescent gambling this study focuses on problem gambling among girls. We consider different social, cognitive, motivational and behavioral factors as predictors of girl problem gambling. A total of 1,372 high-school girls from 7 Croatian cities participated in the study. They provided data on their gambling activities, peer gambling, cognitive distortions related to gambling, motivation for gambling, and levels of general risky behavior. As the only instrument developed specifically for use on adolescents, the Canadian Adolescent Gambling Inventory was used to examine adverse gambling consequences. Results show 7.4% of girls can be considered regular gamblers, and out of those who gambled at least once in their lifetime (n = 862), 11.2% already experience mild adverse consequences because of their gambling (at risk gamblers), with 3.2% experiencing serious consequences (problem gamblers). In general, girls seem to prefer lotto and scratch cards, but sports betting seems to be the preferred game of choice among regular girl gamblers. A hierarchical regression model confirmed the importance of much the same factors identified as risky for the development of problem gambling among adolescent boys—cognitive distortions, motives to earn money, to be better at gambling and to relax, the experiences of winning large and the drive to continue gambling, together with social factors such as having friends who also gamble, being involved in other risky and delinquent behavior and higher gambling frequency. Results call into question the importance of the motive to feel better for adolescent girls problem gambling. We discuss implications of our findings for both universal and indicated youth gambling prevention programs.

This paper reports on the development and pilot evaluation of a Croatian school-based youth gambling prevention program "Who really wins?". The program is aimed at minimizing risk and enhancing protective factors related to youth gambling. A short-term evaluation of the program was conducted with a sample of 190 first and second year high-school students (67.6% boys, aged 14-17 years; average age 15.61). An experimental design with two groups (Training vs. No Training) and two measurement sessions (pre-test and post-test sessions) was used to evaluate change in problem gambling awareness, cognitive distortions, knowledge of the nature of random events as well as in social skills. Results showed significant changes in the post-test sessions, which can be attributed to changes in the Training group. We observed a decrease in risk factors, namely better knowledge about gambling and less gambling related cognitive distortions. Immediate effects on protective factors such as problem solving skills, refusal skills, and general self-efficacy were not observed. Findings also show program effects to be the same for both boys and girls, students from different types of schools, for those with different learning aptitudes, as well as for those at different risk levels with regard to their gambling, which speaks in favour of the program's universality. The program had no iatrogenic effects on behaviour change and shows promise as an effective tool for youth gambling prevention. Future research and a long-term evaluation are needed to determine whether the observed changes are also linked to behavioural change.

The main aim of this study was to explore the frequency of gambling and gambling-related problems among Croatian high school students. The specific objectives have been to explore gender differences, and differences in the frequency and severity of gambling problems regarding grade/age and type of school program. The study included n=2.702 high school students from all for grades and all three types of high school programs (3- and 4-year vocational/professional schools, and grammar schools) from 7 cities (Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka, Split, Vinkovci, Slavonski Brod and Koprivnica) with equal representation of boys (n=1.330, 49.2%) and girls (n=1.372, 50.8%). The respondents’ mean age was Mage = 16.51 (SDage=1.17). The following instruments were used: Questionnaire on general socio-demographic data, Gambling activities questionnaire (Ricijaš, Dodig, Huić, & Kranželić, 2011) and the Canadian Adolescent Gambling Inventory - CAGI (Tremblay, Stinchfield, Wiebe, & Wynne, 2010). Results show that the lifetime prevalence of gambling among Croatian high-school students is 72.9%. The most prevalent games of chance are sports betting and lottery games, with sports betting being the most frequent of these activities. As much as 12.9% adolescents have already developed serious adverse gambling related consequences. Boys have significantly higher problem gambling rates than girls, while the effects of differences regarding the type of school and grade/age are relatively low. The results provide important baseline data for future research, interventions design, and for the improvement of social policy and legislation.

Temeljni cilj ovog rada je istražiti zastupljenost kockanja te štetnih psihosocijalnih posljedica kockanja (tzv. problematičnog kockanja) kod hrvatskih srednjoškolaca. Dodatni ciljevi su istražiti rodne razlike te razlike u učestalosti kockanja i izraženosti problema s obzirom na razred (dob) i vrstu školskog usmjerenja. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo n=2.702 učenika svih razreda sva tri hrvatska srednjoškolska programa (tro- i četvero-godišnje strukovne škole te gimnazije) iz 7 gradova (Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka, Split, Vinkovci, Slavonski Brod i Koprivnica), pri čemu su podjednako zastupljeni mladići (n=1.330, 49.2%) i djevojke (ž=1.372, 50.8%), a prosječna životna dob iznosi Mdob=16.51 (SDdob=1.17). Kako bi se ostvarili ciljevi rada, korišteni su sljedeći instrumenti: Upitnik o općim socio-demografskim podacima, Upitnik aktivnosti kockanja (Ricijaš, Dodig, Huić i Kranželić, 2011) i Kanadski upitnik kockanja adolescenata – CAGI (Tremblay, Stinchfield, Wiebe i Wynne, 2010.). Pritom je istraživanje usmjereno na formalne oblike igara na sreću, odnosno one igre koje se nude od službeno registriranih priređivača na području Republike Hrvatske. Rezultati pokazuju kako je 72.9% srednjoškolaca barem jednom u životu kockalo/kladilo se. Najveći udio učenika ima iskustvo sportskog klađenja i igranja lutrijskih igara, pri čemu je klađenje na sportske rezultate najučestalija igra na sreću. Čak 12.9% srednjoškolaca zadovoljava kriterije za visoku razinu problema povezanih s kockanjem. Utvrđene su i značajne rodne razlike u učestalosti kockanja kao i zastupljenosti štetnih psihosocijalnih problema povezanih s kockanjem u korist mladića, dok su efekti razlika kada je riječ o vrsti škole i razredu/dobi relativno niski. Rezultati pružaju značajne smjernice za buduća istraživanja, planiranje intervencija prema djeci i mladima, te kreiranje socijalnih politika i unaprjeđivanje zakonske regulative.