The prevalence of problem gambling among U.S. adolescents and young adults: results from a national survey.
A random telephone survey was conducted with a representative sample of 2,274 U.S. residents aged 14-21. The prevalence of problem gambling, as measured by the SOGS-RA, was 2.1%. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of the respondents had gambled in the past year, and 11% had gambled more often than twice per week. Males had much higher gambling involvement than females, and gambling involvement increased among older respondents. Blacks were less likely than average to have gambled in the past year, but if they gambled, they were more likely to do so frequently. Low SES respondents were less likely to have gambled in the past year, but if they gambled, they were more likely to be problem gamblers. Life transitions that are associated with assuming adult roles (employment, living independently of parents, non-student status) are also associated with greater gambling involvement. The rates of problem and pathological gambling were lower than those in an adult survey conducted earlier, when measured with the same questionnaire.
Welte
John W
JW
Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA, welte@ria.buffalo.edu
Barnes
Grace M
GM
Tidwell
Marie-Cecile O
MC
Hoffman
Joseph H
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States