The Significance of Gender and Ethnicity in Collegiate Gambling and Drinking

A Meta-analytical Synthesis and Examination of Pathological and Problem Gambling Rates and Associated Moderators Among College Students, 1987-2016

The problem of gambling addiction is especially noteworthy among college students, many of whom have the resources, proximity, free time, and desire to become involved in the myriad options of gambling now available. Although limited attention has been paid specifically to college student gambling in the body of literature, there have been three published meta-analyses estimating the prevalence of probable pathological gambling among college students. The research presented is the largest and most comprehensive, presenting an up-to-date proportion of those students worldwide exhibiting gambling pathology as assessed by the South Oaks Gambling Screen, and is the first to include estimates of sub-clinical problem gambling. A thorough literature review and coding procedure resulted in 124 independent data estimates retrieved from 72 studies conducted between 1987 and the present, surveying 41,989 university students worldwide. The estimated proportion of probable pathological gamblers among students was computed at 6.13%, while the rate of problem gambling was computed at 10.23%. Statistical significance was found in the influence of the percentage of non-white students on pathological gambling rates. The implications of this and other moderator analyses such as age and year of studies, as well as recommendations for future practice in dealing with college students and gambling disorder on campus are outlined and described in detail. Suggestions and rationales for future avenues of research in the area are also described.

Risk factors for gambling and substance use among recent college students

BACKGROUND

While it is well known that substance use and gambling overlap, the degree to which this overlap can be explained by shared risk factors has not been fully explored. This study aimed to identify common and unique risk factors for gambling and substance use among young adults.

METHODS

Young adults (n=1,019) in a longitudinal study since college entry were interviewed annually. Past-year frequency of seven gambling activities was assessed once (Year 5). Structural equation models evaluated suspected risk factors in two models, one for gambling with substance use as an intermediary variable, and one for substance use with gambling as the intermediary variable.

RESULTS

Sixty percent gambled; 6% gambled weekly or more. Examination of the two structural models supported the existence of significant paths (a) from two of the five substance use variables (alcohol, drugs) to gambling frequency, and (b) from gambling frequency to all five substance use variables. Every risk factor associated with gambling was also associated with one or more substance use variables. Risk factors common to gambling and substance use were sex, race/ethnicity, extracurricular involvement (fraternity/sorority, athletics), impulsive sensation-seeking, and behavioral dysregulation. Risk factors unique to substance use were conduct problems, anxiety, and parent's history of alcohol and mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Gambling and substance use are interrelated, but with incomplete overlap in their respective risk factors. Results underscore the need for longitudinal research to elucidate their distinct etiologies.

Gambling and Video Game Playing Among Youth

Gambling and video game playing represent two leisure activities in which adolescents and young adults participate. There are psychological and behavioural parallels between some forms of gambling (e.g., slot machines, video lottery terminals, electronic gambling machines) and some types of video games (e.g., arcade games). Both activities operate on behavioural principles of variable reinforcement schedules in order to reward and prolong play and use exciting and stimulating sound and light effects within game play. Additionally, both activities have similar negative effects associated with excessive play (e.g., poor academic performance, moodiness, loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, and interpersonal conflict). Thus, there is concern that children and adolescents who are attracted to video games, for both psychological rewards and the challenge, may be at greater risk to gamble. We examined the gambling and video game playing behaviour among 1,229 adolescents and young adults. Results indicate that gamblers, relative to non-gamblers, were more likely to play video games. Video game players were more likely than non-players to gamble. Both social and problem gamblers had higher rates of video game playing than did non-gamblers, and addicted gamers had higher rates of gambling than did social and non-gamers. Results from the current study suggest significant overlap in youth participation in both gambling activities and video game playing. These results have implications for future research and the treatment of problem gambling and video game addiction.Les jeux de hasard et les jeux vidéo sont deux loisirs auxquels s’adonnent les adolescents et les jeunes adultes. Il existe des parallèles psychologiques et comportementaux entre certaines formes des jeux de hasard (p. ex., les appareils à sous, les appareils de loterie vidéo, les machines de jeux électroniques) et certains jeux vidéo (p. ex., les jeux d’arcade). Ces deux types de jeux exploitent les principes comportementaux du programme variable de renforcement pour récompenser le joueur et l’amener à jouer plus longtemps et utilisent des effets lumineux et sonores stimulants et excitants pour accroître l’attrait de l’expérience de jeu. De plus, ces deux activités entraînent des effets négatifs similaires chez les joueurs excessifs (p. ex., mauvais résultats scolaires, instabilité émotive, perte d’intérêt pour des activités qui autrefois procuraient du plaisir, conflits interpersonnels). On craint donc que les enfants et les adolescents qui sont attirés par les jeux vidéo, en raison des défis qu’ils proposent et des récompenses psychologiques qu’ils procurent, soient plus à risque de s’adonner aux jeux de hasard. La présente recherche a examiné les comportements de jeu de 1229 adolescents et jeunes adultes relativement aux jeux de hasard et aux jeux vidéo. Les résultats indiquent que les joueurs de jeux de hasard, par rapport aux non-joueurs, étaient plus susceptibles de jouer à des jeux vidéo, et que les joueurs de jeux vidéo étaient pareillement plus susceptibles de s’adonner aux jeux de hasard que les sujets ne jouant pas aux jeux vidéo. Le groupe des joueurs sociaux et celui des joueurs à problèmes présentaient tous deux un taux plus élevé de pratique des jeux vidéo que celui des non-joueurs, et les sujets ayant une dépendance aux jeux vidéo s’adonnaient également en plus forte proportion aux jeux de hasard que les sujets ne pratiquant par les jeux vidéo ou les pratiquant de manière sociale uniquement. Les résultats de la présente étude donnent à croire qu’il y a un chevauchement important entre la pratique des jeux de hasard et celle des jeux vidéo chez les jeunes. Ces résultats ont des incidences sur les futures recherches et le traitement de la dépendance aux jeux de hasard et aux jeux vidéo. 

Health behaviors of mandated and voluntary students in a motivational intervention program

College students engage in many unhealthy behaviors, one of these, heavy alcohol use, is a major global public health problem.

Objective

This longitudinal study examined whether students' mandated/voluntary status in a program to reduce college drinking was associated with overall health, ethnicity, gender, and personality traits. Both mandated and voluntary groups participated in the Motivational Intervention (MI) program to prevent high risk drinking.

Methods

Freshmen (710 voluntary, 190 mandated, n = 900) between the ages of 18 and 21, received the MI at baseline and again at 2 weeks, with boosters at 3, 6 and 12 months. Participants completed three measures: the Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ); the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII). Mandated and voluntary participants were compared at baseline and following the intervention using two sample t-tests for continuous variables (overall health, personality traits, drinking measures), and chi-square for categorical variables (gender, ethnicity). Linear mixed models were used to identify associations between HPLP II scores and mandated/voluntary status, time, ethnicity gender and SURPS scale scores.

Results

In both groups, alcohol consumption dropped significantly by 12 months. Overall health-promoting behaviors, physical activity, stress management, and interpersonal relations improved in both groups between baseline and 12 months. Associations were found between alcohol consumption, personality traits, gender, and lifestyle health-promoting behaviors. In particular, impulsivity and hopelessness were associated with poor health behaviors.

Conclusions

Intervention programs to reduce drinking by college students need to address developmental dynamics of freshmen students, including gender, psychosocial factors, personality, and lifestyle health-promoting behaviors.

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Mandated and voluntary students participated in the Motivational Intervention (MI) program.

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MI was effective from baseline to 12 months in reducing alcohol consumption and its consequences.

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Associations found between personality traits, and health-promoting behaviors.

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MI programs on campuses need to use a comprehensive design that addresses health-promoting behaviors.

Brief motivational intervention for heavy drinking mandated and voluntary freshmen: A 1-year follow-up assessment

BACKGROUND

Alcohol abuse among freshmen university students is a major public health issue with associated costs to individuals and the society of substantial morbidity, high-risk negative behaviors (e.g., blackouts, rape, suicide, and violence), and mortality. This longitudinal study compared the effectiveness of a brief motivational intervention (MI) in decreasing alcohol consumption and related consequences among mandated students and voluntary students. Readiness to change drinking behaviors was compared between the groups.

METHODS

Eligible participants (710 voluntary and 190 mandated, N = 900) received MI at baseline and again at 2 weeks with boosters at 3, 6, and 12 months. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to compare the two groups.

RESULTS

Alcohol use and related consequences in both groups decreased significantly between baseline and 12 months. At baseline, a significantly larger percent of students from the mandated group than the voluntary group were in the action stage of change (52.1% vs. 27.5%), and a significantly smaller percentage of mandated students were in the precontemplation stage (p < .0001).

DISCUSSION

MI effects were sustained over 12 months. Alcohol consumption and related consequences decreased significantly among the freshmen who were mandated to attend the program as well as among students who volunteered to participate in the study. The findings support the importance of advanced practice nurses conducting MI as an intervention with college students.