title: Unhealthy Gambling Amongst New Zealand Secondary School Students: An Exploration of Risk and Protective Factors.
abstract: This study sought to determine the prevalence of gambling and unhealthy gambling behaviour and describe risk and protective factors associated with these behaviours amongst a nationally representative sample of New Zealand secondary school students (n= 8,500). Factor analysis and item response theory were used to develop a model to provide a measure of 'unhealthy gambling'. Logistic regressions and multiple logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between unhealthy gambling behaviour and selected outcomes. Approximately one-quarter (24.2 %) of students had gambled in the last year, and 4.8 % had two or more indicators of unhealthy gambling. Multivariate analyses found that unhealthy gambling was associated with four main factors: more accepting attitudes towards gambling (p< 0.0001); gambling via gambling machines/casinos/track betting (p= 0.0061); being worried about and/or trying to cut down on gambling (p< 0.0001); and, having attempted suicide (p= 0.0009). Unhealthy gambling is a significant health issue for young people in New Zealand. Ethnic and social inequalities were apparent and these disparities need to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Social and Community Health, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142 New Zealand.
authors.forename: Fiona V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Rossen
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Terryann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health & Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Roshini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peiris-John
authors.affiliation: Auckland UniServices Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mathijs F G
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lucassen
keywords: Gambling; Mental Health; Protective factors; Risk factors; Youth