Educating teachers about gambling can reduce gambling in their students

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Author(s): Tani, Franca ; Ponti, Lucia ; Ghinassi, Simon ; Smorti, Martina

Journal: International Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2021

Date Added: April 27, 2021

Over 90% of adolescents in Italy gamble. Gambling prevention programs often target adolescents directly. However, training teachers about gambling harms could also help reduce gambling in their students. This study trained one group of teachers about adolescent gambling and provided no training for another group. The researchers compared the gambling and problem gambling behaviours of the students of teachers who either received or did not receive this training. Teachers who received training were more aware of adolescent gambling and gambling-related problems. Their students also showed a decrease in gambling and problem gambling behaviours, and had fewer erroneous beliefs about gambling. Thus, training teachers could be an effective way to reduce gambling in adolescents.

Citation: Tani, F., Ponti, L., Ghinassi, S., & Smorti, M. (2021). A gambling primary prevention program for students through teacher training: An evidence-based study. International Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2020.1861056

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2020.1861056

Keywords: adolescent gambling ; cognitive distortions ; evidence-based ; interventions ; prevention ; primary care ; profit ; students ; teachers ; treatment programs

Topics: Best Practices ; Gambling Resources ; Information for Operators ; Information for Treatment Providers ; Prevention

Conceptual Framework Factors: Social - Education System ; Psychological Factors ; Resources - Harm Reduction, Prevention, and Protection ; Social - Social Demographics ; Social Factors ; Gambling Resources

Response Rate: At the school level, response rate = 2/6 = 33% (2 out of 6 schools agreed to participate)

Study Design: Experimental: RCT (randomized controlled trial)

Geographic Coverage: Italy, Tuscany

Study Population: Secondary school students (N = 393) and teachers (N = 33) at two schools in metropolitan area of the centre of Tuscany, Italy

Sampling Procedure: The researchers randomly selected 6 of the 96 public secondary schools in Tuscany, Italy and asked the principals if their school would participate in the study. Two of the six schools agreed to participate. They then individually invited teachers at those schools to participate, and 33 agreed. They then invited all the students in each of those teachers’ classes to participate (and all 393 students agreed)

Study Funding:

This study was partially funded by the Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia Fondation (n.2016.0169/GI), and the Banca d'Italia (n.26136/2018).