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Prevalence and Correlates of Gambling Problems Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Brazilian Adolescents

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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.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD), grant # 017/2003.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Daniel Tornaim Spritzer & Daniela Bumaguin Benzano

  2. 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

    Luis Augusto Rohde

  3. Psychiatry Department, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ronaldo Ramos Laranjeira & Ilana Pinsky

  4. Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil

    Marcos Zaleski

  5. Houston Health Science Center, University of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA

    Raul Caetano

  6. Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Hermano Tavares

  7. Rua Vicente da Fontoura, 2839/503, Porto Alegre, RS, 90640-003, Brazil

    Daniel Tornaim Spritzer

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  1. Daniel Tornaim Spritzer
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  2. Luis Augusto Rohde
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  3. Daniela Bumaguin Benzano
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  4. Ronaldo Ramos Laranjeira
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  8. Hermano Tavares
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Correspondence to Daniel Tornaim Spritzer.

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Spritzer, D.T., Rohde, L.A., Benzano, D.B. et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Gambling Problems Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Brazilian Adolescents. J Gambl Stud 27, 649–661 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-010-9236-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-010-9236-7

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