Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Environmental Correlates of Gambling Behavior in Urban Adolescents

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study considered the relation between adolescent gambling behavior and the perceived environment, the component of Jessor and Jessor’s (1977) Problem Behavior Theory that assesses the ways that adolescents perceive the attitudes and behaviors of parents and peers. The predominantly African-American sample included 188 sophomores from two urban public high schools. Using the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents to assess gambling risk, rates of both at-risk (20.7%) and problem (12.8%) gambling were found to be high. Boys displayed more gambling problems than did girls. The perceived environment accounted for significant variance in gambling problems and frequency, with proximal components displaying stronger relationships than distal components. Perceiving parent gambling and friend models for problem behavior were positively correlated with gambling problems, and friend models were positively related to gambling frequency. Among girls, family support was positively related to gambling problems. Among boys, this relation was negative.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

  • Ary, D. V., Duncan, T. E., Duncan, S. E., & Hops, H. (1999). Adolescent problem behavior: The influence of parents and peers. Behavior Research and Therapy, 37, 217–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, F. M., Jessor, R., & Turbin, M. S. (1999). Transition into adolescent problem drinking: The role of psychosocial risk and protective factors. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60, 480–490.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Derevensky, J. L., Gupta, R., & Winters, K. (2003). Prevalence rates of youth gambling problems: Are the current rates inflated? Journal of Gambling Studies, 19, 405–425.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, L. M., Derevensky, J. L., & Gupta, R. (2002). The prevention of gambling problems in youth: A conceptual framework. Journal of Gambling Studies, 18, 97–159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, L. M., Derevensky, J. L., & Gupta, R. (2004). Harm reduction for the prevention of youth gambling problems: Lessons learned from adolescent high-risk behavior prevention programs. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19, 233–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan, J. E., Jessor, R., & Costa, F. M. (1999). Adolescent problem drinking: Stability of psychosocial and behavioral correlates across a generation. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60, 352– 361.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, R. I. (2003). Some theoretical models and constructs generic to substance abuse prevention programs for adolescents: Possible relevance and limitations for problem gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 19, 287–302.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Felsher, J. R., Derevensky, J. L., Gupta, R. (2003). Parental influences and social modeling of youth lottery participation. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 13, 361– 377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. (1998). Adolescent gambling behavior: A prevalence study and examination of the correlates associated with excessive gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 14, 319–345.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hardoon, K., & Derevensky, J. L.(2001). Social Influences involved in children’s gambling behavior. Journal of Gambling Studies, 17, 191–215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hardoon, K. K., & Derevensky, J. L. (2002). Child and adolescent gambling behavior: Current knowledge. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 7, 263–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardoon, K. K., Gupta, R., Derevensky, J. L. (2004). Psychosocial variables associated with adolescent gambling. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 18, 170–179.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, D. F. (2000). Juvenile gambling in North America: An analysis of long-term trends and future prospects. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16, 119–152.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R., Costa, F., & Turbin, M. S. (2001). Adolescent health and development survey. Boulder: Colorado University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. L. (1973). The perceived environment in behavioral science: Some conceptual issues and some illustrative data. American Behavioral Scientist, 16, 801– 828.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. L. (1977). Problem behavior and psychosocial development. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R., Turbin, M. S., & Costa, F. M. (1998). Risk and protection in successful outcomes among disadvantaged adolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 2, 194–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafka, R. R., & London, P. (1991). Communication in relationships and adolescent substance use: The influence of parents and friends. Adolescence, 26(103), 587–588-98.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kassinove, J. I., Doyle, K. A., & Milburn, N. G. (2000). Gambling and alcohol use in adolescence. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 15, 51–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladouceur, R., Dubé, D., & Bujold, A. (1994). Gambling among primary school students. Journal of Gambling Studies, 10, 363–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Rohde, P., Seeley, J. R., & Rohling, M. L. (2004). Individual, family, and peer correlates of adolescent gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 20, 23–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, S. M., & Ohtsuka, K. (1999). Beliefs about control over gambling among young people, and their relation to problem gambling. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 13, 339– 347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Peacock, R. B., Day, P. A., Peacock, T. D. (2000). Adolescent gambling on a Great Lakes Indian reservation. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 2, 5–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, A. J., & Holt, D. (1982). The effect of two-stage sampling on ordinary least squares methods. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 77, 848–854.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, H. J., & Hall, M. N. (1996). Estimating the prevalence of adolescent gambling disorders: A qualitative synthesis and guide toward standard gambling nomenclature. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12, 193–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simons-Morton, B., Chen, R., Abroms, L., & Haynie, D. L. (2004). Latent growth curve analyses of peers and parent influences on smoking progression among early adolescents. Health Psychology, 23, 612–621.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stinchfield, R. (2000). Gambling and correlates of gambling among Minnesota public school students. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16, 153–173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vachon, J., Vitaro, F., Wanner, B., & Tremblay, R. (2004). Adolescent gambling: Relationships with parent gambling and parenting practices. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 18, 398– 401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vitaro, F., Brendgen, M., Ladouceur, R., & Tremblay, R. E. (2001). Gambling, delinquency, and drug use during adolescence: Mutual influences and common risk factors. Journal of Gambling Studies, 17, 171–190.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vitaro, F., Wanner, B., Ladouceur, R., Brendgen, M., & Tremblay, R. E. (2004). Trajectories of gambling during adolescence. Journal of Gambling Studies, 20, 47–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Volberg, R. (1993). Gambling and problem gambling in Washington state. Report to the Washington State Lottery. Albany, NY: Gemini Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volberg, R. (2002). Gambling and problem gambling among adolescents in Nevada. Report to the Nevada Department of Human Resources. Albany, NY: Gemini Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallisch, L. (1995). Gambling in Texas: The 1995 survey of adolescent gambling behavior. Austin, TX: Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, N. E., & Silberstein, R. K. (2003). Family relationship quality and contact with deviant peers as predictors of adolescent problem behaviors: The moderating role of gender. Journal of Adolescent Research, 18(5), 454–480.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winters, K. C., & Anderson, N. (2000). Gambling involvement and drug use among adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16, 175–198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winters, K. C., Stinchfield, R., & Fulkerson, J. M. A. (1993). Toward the development of an adolescent gambling problem severity scale. Journal of Gambling Studies, 9, 63–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winters, K. C., Stinchfield, R., Botzet, A., & Anderson, N. (2002). A prospective study of youth gambling behaviors. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 16, 3–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, R. T. A., & Griffiths (2004). Adolescent lottery and scratchcard players: Do their attitudes influence their gambling behavior? Journal of Adolescence, 27, 467–475.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zitzow, D. (1996). Comparative study of problematic gambling behaviors between American Indian and non-Indian adolescents within and near a Northern Plains reservation. American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research: Journal of the National Center, 7, 14–26.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Support for this research was provided by a grant from the Assisi Foundation of Memphis and a Centers of Excellence grant from the State of Tennessee. The authors thank the Memphis City Schools and the students and families who participated in this study. We also thank Dr. Frances Costa for her valuable input and Claudia McCausland for her help with this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Gambling Education and Research, Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152-3230, USA

    Emerson M. Wickwire, James P. Whelan & Andrew W. Meyers

  2. Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    David M. Murray

Authors
  1. Emerson M. Wickwire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James P. Whelan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrew W. Meyers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David M. Murray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James P. Whelan.

Additional information

The authors Emerson M. Wickwire, Jr. James P. Whelan, and Andrew W. Meyers are members of The Institute for Gambling Education and Research, Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN. The primary research interest of this group is the prevention and treatment of gambling related problems.

David M. Murray, Ph.D., is the Chair of the Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wickwire, E.M., Whelan, J.P., Meyers, A.W. et al. Environmental Correlates of Gambling Behavior in Urban Adolescents. J Abnorm Child Psychol 35, 179–190 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-006-9065-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-006-9065-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation