Mental health as a predictor of online gambling one year later in a large cohort of Canadian adolescents

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Author(s): Pilkington, Mackenzie L. ; Gohari, Mahmood R. ; Cole, Adam G. ; Ferro, Mark A. ; Elton-Marshall, Tara ; Laxer, Rachel ; Leatherdale, Scott T. ; Patte, Karen A.

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2025

Date Added: January 23, 2026

Online gambling is becoming more prevalent among youth. Research has found a number of risk factors linked to gambling behaviour among young people. However, most of these findings have been based on cross-sectional studies that collect data at one time point only. In the present study, the researchers analyzed longitudinal data to identify potential mental health predictors of future online gambling. A total of 26,818 Canadian students in grades 9 to 11 were included in the study. It was found that young people who scored high on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation were more likely to report online gambling one year later. However, when all mental health predictors were analyzed together, only young people with high depressive symptoms were more likely to report online gambling one year later. The results highlight the role of mental health in online gambling risk among youth.

Citation: Pilkington, M. L., Gohari, M. R., Cole, A. G., Ferro, M. A., Elton-Marshall, T., Laxer, R., Leatherdale, S. T., & Patte, K. A. (2025). A prospective study of mental health in relation to online gambling one-year later in a large cohort of adolescents in Canada. Journal of Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10447-2

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10447-2

Keywords: adolescents ; depression ; mental health ; online gambling

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

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Psychological Factors ; Social - Social Demographics ; Psychological - Lifespan Development ; Social Factors

Study Design: Secondary Data Analysis

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Ontario

Study Population: Students in grades 9 to 11 (n = 26,818) who participated in the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol, Smoking, and Sedentary behaviour (COMPASS) Study during the 2017/2018, 2018/19, and/or 2019/20 school years and had at least two consecutive years of linked data.

Sampling Procedure: The researchers conducted a secondary data analysis of the Cannabis, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol, Smoking, and Sedentary behaviour (COMPASS) Study. The COMPASS study is an ongoing annual survey designed to collect data on health behaviours from a rolling cohort of students. For this study, the researchers used 2-year prospective survey data from students in grades 9 to 11 that participated in COMPASS during the 2017/2018, 2018/19, and/or 2019/20 school years.

Study Funding:

Funding for this study was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.