The role of self-efficacy and personal fulfillment in social and educational domains in video slot machine gambling among adolescents

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Author(s): Mosconi, Giansanto ; DelFerro, Joseph ; Jin, Andrea ; Bertuccio, Paola ; Odone, Anna ; the Selfie Project Investigators

Journal: Addictive Behaviors Reports

Year Published: 2024

Date Added: December 20, 2024

Video slot machines (VSMs) have high potential to trigger harmful gambling behaviours. Yet, the psychological factors linked with VSM use among adolescents remain poorly investigated. The researchers surveyed a total of 7,959 Italian adolescents aged 15 to 17 in 2018 and 2022. Regular VSM use of at least once a month was reported by 108 participants (1.4%). Regular VSM use was more frequently reported by those who rated their problem-solving ability as high or low. It was also more frequently reported by those with high or low levels of current and expected social fulfillment, as well as those with low self-ratings in current and expected educational/work fulfillment.

Citation: Mosconi, G., DelFerro, J., Jin, A., Bertuccio, P., Odone, A., & the Selfie Project Investigators (2024). Video slot machine use in adolescence: The role of self-efficacy beliefs, current and expected personal fulfillment at the social and educational level. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 20, 100560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100560

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100560

Keywords: adolescents ; gambling ; self-efficacy ; slot-machine gambling ; Video Lottery Terminal (VLTs)

Topics: Children and Youth ; Priority Populations ; Slots and VLTs

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological Factors ; Social - Social Demographics ; Psychological - Lifespan Development ; Social Factors ; Psychological - Subjective Well-Being

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Geographic Coverage: Italy

Study Population: Adolescents aged 15–17 years old (n = 7,959). In the sample, about 44 % of the students were males.

Sampling Procedure: Data were drawn from two cross-sectional surveys carried out in 2018 and 2022 in 11 high school in Pavia (Northern Italy) by the Semi di Melo Association as part of the “Selfie Project”.

Study Funding:

No funding was received for this study.