title: Life skills, mathematical reasoning and critical thinking: a curriculum for the prevention of problem gambling.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that youth are two to three times more likely than adults to report gambling related problems. This paper reports on the development and pilot evaluation of a school-based problem gambling prevention curriculum. The prevention program focused on problem gambling awareness and self-monitoring skills, coping skills, and knowledge of the nature of random events. The results of a controlled experiment evaluating the students learning from the program are reported. We found significant improvement in the students' knowledge of random events, knowledge of problem gambling awareness and self-monitoring, and knowledge of coping skills. The results suggest that knowledge based material on random events, problem gambling awareness and self-monitoring skills, and coping skills can be taught. Future development of the curriculum will focus on content to expand the students' coping skill options.
authors: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, T524, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1. Nigel_Turner@camh.net
authors: Nigel E
authors: NE
authors: Turner
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Macdonald
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Somerset
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D011340:Problem Solving; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D013850:Thinking