Prévention du jeu excessif chez les adolescents : une approche cognitive

Theory of Planned Behavior in School-Based Adolescent Problem Gambling Prevention: A Conceptual Framework

Given its serious implications for psychological and socio-emotional health, the prevention of problem gambling among adolescents is increasingly acknowledged as an area requiring attention. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is a well-established model of behavior change that has been studied in the development and evaluation of primary preventive interventions aimed at modifying cognitions and behavior. However, the utility of the TPB has yet to be explored as a framework for the development of adolescent problem gambling prevention initiatives. This paper first examines the existing empirical literature addressing the effectiveness of school-based primary prevention programs for adolescent gambling. Given the limitations of existing programs, we then present a conceptual framework for the integration of the TPB in the development of effective problem gambling preventive interventions. The paper describes the TPB, demonstrates how the framework has been applied to gambling behavior, and reviews the strengths and limitations of the model for the design of primary prevention initiatives targeting adolescent risk and addictive behaviors, including adolescent gambling.

Parent problem gambling: A systematic review of prevention programs for children

Parent problem gambling (PG) has pervasive adverse effects on children. These children experience considerable losses such as loss of trust, loss of safety and stability, as well as financial and emotional losses. They are at greater risk for maltreatment and mental health disorders, and they are also at risk for intergenerational transmission of PG. These children are two to four times more likely to develop PG than children of non-PG parents. To date, there has been a dearth of research examining the impact of parent PG on children, and even less research focusing on reducing risks in children of PG parents. The goal of this systematic review was to identify PG prevention programs for children and examine the types of prevention used and whether these programs target specific subgroups. Our search retained 16 studies examining PG prevention programs for children. Results indicated that all of the PG prevention programs in the selected studies are universal and do not target children of PG parents or any other specific subgroups. A large gap is the absence of secondary and tertiary PG prevention programs for children. Another gap is the lack of family focused prevention strategies which the substance use literature has shown to be the most effective form of prevention. Further research is needed on parent PG and ways of reducing risks and increasing protective factors in children and families. A public health framework must be adopted to delay onset, reduce risks and minimize consequences in children of PG parents.

Évaluation d'un site Web de sensibilisation sur le jeu excessif s'adressant aux jeunes adultes

Transmettre de l'information sur les jeux de hasard et d'argent (JHA) semble être une façon efficace de sensibiliser la population aux problèmes de jeu. L'utilisation d'un site Web comme outil de sensibilisation peut être une approche adaptée pour atteindre les jeunes adultes puisqu'ils naviguent souvent sur Internet. Avant de lancer un tel site Web à l'ensemble de la population, il est important d'évaluer si la transmission d'informations par cet outil de communication est efficace pour informer les jeunes adultes sur les problèmes de jeu. Le but de la présente étude est d'évaluer si la transmission d'informations sur les JHA par le biais d'un site Web de sensibilisation permet d'améliorer les connaissances et de favoriser la reconnaissance des mythes associés au jeu. L'étude vise également à vérifier la satisfaction des utilisateurs envers le site Web. Cent joueurs réguliers âgés de 18 à 25 ans ont été répartis entre le groupe expérimental (consultation du site Web) et le groupe contrôle (lecture de magazines). Les participants devaient, pendant 30 minutes, naviguer sur le site ou lire des articles de revues et remplir les questionnaires expérimentaux avant et après leur tâche. Conformément au postulat de départ, les participants du groupe expérimental sont plus nombreux que ceux du groupe contrôle à rapporter des connaissances justes en matière de JHA et à pouvoir identifier les mythes reliés aux JHA après la consultation du site. Lors du post-test, les participants du groupe expérimental sont également plus nombreux à manifester des connaissances plus justes et à identifier correctement les mythes comparativement au prétest. En outre, ils ont aimé la présentation visuelle et la facilité de navigation du site. Les implications des résultats sont discutées.

Stacked Deck: an effective, school-based program for the prevention of problem gambling

School-based prevention programs are an important component of problem gambling prevention, but empirically effective programs are lacking. Stacked Deck is a set of 5-6 interactive lessons that teach about the history of gambling; the true odds and "house edge"; gambling fallacies; signs, risk factors, and causes of problem gambling; and skills for good decision making and problem solving. An overriding theme of the program is to approach life as a "smart gambler" by determining the odds and weighing the pros versus cons of your actions. A total of 949 grade 9-12 students in 10 schools throughout southern Alberta received the program and completed baseline and follow-up measures. These students were compared to 291 students in 4 control schools. Four months after receiving the program, students in the intervention group had significantly more negative attitudes toward gambling, improved knowledge about gambling and problem gambling, improved resistance to gambling fallacies, improved decision making and problem solving, decreased gambling frequency, and decreased rates of problem gambling. There was no change in involvement in high risk activities or money lost gambling. These results indicate that Stacked Deck is a promising curriculum for the prevention of problem gambling.