title: Prevalence of Adolescent Problem Gambling: A Systematic Review of Recent Research.
abstract: Previous research has shown that gambling is a popular activity among adolescents. Following a rapid expansion of legalized gambling opportunities and the emergence of new forms of gambling, many researchers have carried out studies on adolescent gambling and problem gambling. The present paper reviews studies that have been conducted worldwide since 2000, and then presents a more detailed picture of adolescent gambling research in Europe, by providing a country-by country analysis. After an extensive search on academic databases and following an exclusion process, 44 studies were identified. The findings showed that 0.2-12.3 % of youth meet criteria for problem gambling, notwithstanding differences among assessment instruments, cut-offs, and timeframes. However, despite this variability, several demographic characteristics were associated with adolescent gambling involvement and problem gambling. It is concluded that a small but significant minority of adolescents have gambling-related problems. Such findings will hopefully encourage more research into youth gambling to further understand the determinants of this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Division, Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, United Kingdom. filipa.calado2013@my.ntu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Filipa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calado
authors.affiliation: ISCTE - Lisbon University Institute, Avenida das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.affiliation: International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Division, Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Adolescence; Adolescent gambling; Gambling; Gambling prevalence; Problem gambling; Youth gambling