Coping Strategies Employed by Adolescents with Gambling Problems.

BACKGROUND

This study explored the relationship between coping styles, gambling behaviours and substance use amongst adolescents.

METHOD

Five hundred and eighty-seven students, aged 12 to 17, volunteered to participate and completed all scales. Participants completed a gambling screen (DSM-IV-J), coping scale (CISS), and a questionnaire developed to assess types and patterns of gambling behaviours (GAQ).

RESULTS

The results suggest that those youths who gamble excessively exhibit coping styles that are more emotion based, avoidant, and distraction-oriented.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest a need to teach high-risk youth more effective active coping strategies in order to minimise their potential for engaging in addictive behaviours. Such efforts should form a substantial part of school-based prevention initiatives.