title: Prevalence and correlates of gambling problems among a nationally representative sample of Brazilian adolescents.
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.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. danielspritzer@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Daniel Tornaim
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Spritzer
authors.forename: Luis Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: Daniela Bumaguin
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Benzano
authors.forename: Ronaldo Ramos
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Laranjeira
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pinsky
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaleski
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: Hermano
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tavares
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires