Gambling to relieve anxiety in adolescents

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Author(s): Cardwell, Emma ; Hoff, Rani A. ; Garakani, Amir ; Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra ; Potenza, Marc N. ; Zhai, Zu Wei

Journal: Journal of Psychiatric Research

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: August 02, 2022

The experience of gambling can be fun and exciting, making people want to gamble again to experience these positive emotions. The experience of gambling can also decrease negative emotions, such as anxiety. Anxiety-motivated gambling (AMG) in adolescents is not well-understood. The authors of this study used data from a survey of high school students in Connecticut. Of those who gambled, 6.41% reported AMG. AMG adolescents were compared to those who gambled but were not motivated by anxiety. AMG adolescents were more likely to be at-risk or have problem gambling. They were more likely to have poor health and functioning (e.g., substance uses, involvement in violence). They also tended to engage in gambling to a greater extent. Therefore, emotion regulation may be important in understanding gambling and other risky behaviours in adolescents.

Citation: Cardwell, E., Hoff, R. A., Garakani, A., Krishnan-Sarin, S., Potenza, M. N., & Zhai, Z. W. (2022). An exploratory study of anxiety-motivated gambling in adolescents: Associations with minority status and gambling, health and functioning measures. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 151, 445-435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.052

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.052

Keywords: addictive behaviour ; adolescents ; anxiety ; coping strategies ; emotional dysregulation ; gambling ; mental health ; motivational factors

Topics: Anxiety and Depression ; Children and Youth ; Comorbidities ; Priority Populations

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Psychological Factors ; Social - Social Demographics ; Psychological - Lifespan Development ; Social Factors

Response Rate: Refusal rate was <1%, so response rate > 99%

Study Design: Descriptive: Survey

Geographic Coverage: United States of America

Study Population: 1856 high school students who had gambled in the past year (1737 non-anxiety-motivated gambling; 119 anxiety-motivated gambling)

Sampling Procedure: Several high schools were invited to participate in the study. Parents were mailed letters and could withdraw their children from the study, and students also provided assent to participate. Otherwise, students completed the study in a single day at each school. Schools were targeted to ensure that sample was representative of the state’s geography and sociodemographic status (SES).

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Connecticut Mental Health Center, the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, and a Center of Excellence in Gambling Research Aware from the National Center for Responsible Gambling.