The roles of parental and personal factors in adolescent gambling

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Author(s): Viola, Erica ; Mehanović, Emina ; Martorana, Marco ; Renna, Mariaelisa ; Sciutto, Alberto ; Giraudi, Giulia ; Ginechesi, Maria ; Vullo, Claudia ; Vadrucci, Serena ; Andrà, Chiara ; Ceccano, Adalgisa ; Casella, Pietro ; Faggiano, Fabrizio ; Vigna-Taglianti, Frederica

Journal: Frontiers in Psychology

Year Published: 2025

Date Added: January 23, 2026

This study looked at the role of parental factors in adolescent gambling. It also examined whether adolescents’ personal characteristics might explain the effects of parental factors on gambling behaviour. Participants were 1,848 Italian students aged 12–14 years old. Slightly over half (55.7%) reported gambling in the last 12 months. Parental gambling; gambling with parents; parental permissiveness to gamble, smoke, and drink alcohol; and perceived gambling among friends were all related to higher likelihood of gambling. In terms of personal characteristics, adolescents’ performance beliefs about gambling (e.g., gambling is a way to become rich), positive attitudes towards gambling, and sensation seeking explained the effects of parental gambling and gambling with parents on their own gambling.

Citation: Viola, E., Mehanović, E., Martorana, M., Renna, M., Sciutto, A., Giraudi, G., Ginechesi, M., Vullo, C., Vadrucci, S., Andrà, C., Ceccano, A., Casella, P., Faggiano, F., & Vigna-Taglianti, F. (2025). Parental correlates of adolescent gambling behavior: A study on 12–14 years old students in Italy. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1563936. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1563936

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1563936

Keywords: adolescents ; correlates ; family relationships ; gambling ; gambling behaviours ; parents

Topics: Children and Youth ; Family and Friends ; Priority Populations

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological Factors ; Social - Family and Peer Gambling Involvement ; Social - Social Demographics ; Psychological - Lifespan Development ; Social Factors

Study Design: Secondary Data Analysis

Geographic Coverage: Italy

Study Population: Adolescents aged 12–14 years old (N = 1,848)

Sampling Procedure: This study used data collected for the baseline survey of the experimental controlled trial “GAPUnplugged”. A total of 29 schools 29 secondary schools located in the territories of nine National Health Service (NHS) districts of Piedmont and Lazio Regions participated in the survey between November 2022 and January 2023. This study included responses from 1,848 students who answered the question regarding gambling in the past 12 months.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by ASLRoma1 and by the Ministry of University and Research.