Internet gambling is common in college students and associated with poor mental health.
This study evaluated prevalence of Internet gambling and its association with pathological gambling and mental health status in college students. The South Oaks Gambling Screen and General Health Questionnaire were administered to 1356 undergraduates, and 23% reported ever gambling on the Internet, with 6.3% reporting Internet gambling weekly. Almost two-thirds (61.6%) of regular Internet gamblers were pathological gamblers, compared with 23.9% of infrequent Internet gamblers and 5.0% of non-Internet gamblers. Internet gambling frequency was significantly associated with poor mental health, after controlling for demographics and pathological gambling. These data call for prevention and treatment efforts of Internet gambling in students.
Petry
Nancy M
NM
University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA. petry@psychiatry.uchc.edu
Weinstock
Jeremiah
J
D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities