Gambling Among Young People, 837 kB

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cognitive difficulties and behavioural problems
Impulsivity, risk-taking behaviour, hyperactivity and attention disorders
Most studies indicate that young people who are problem/pathological gamblers are more prone to
impulsive behaviour and tend to take more risks than other young people (6, 30, 87). This applies
in particular to boys in their early teens, and for many of them the more impulsive and risky their
behaviour becomes, the more they gamble and the more serious does their gambling problem risk
becoming (see also the section on risk factors, impulsivity and risk-taking behaviour in boys) (88–92).
A couple of studies found that hyperactivity and attention disorders are more common among
young people who are problem/pathological gamblers than other young people. A Canadian study by
Hardoon et al in Ontario found that among the just over 2 300 pupils aged between 11 and 19, 57
per cent of whom were girls, those that were problem/pathological gamblers reported the clinical
symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to a greater extent. In other words
they had problems with attention and concentration and were impulsive and restless. Nearly 50 per
cent of the adolescent pathological gamblers and a third of those with gambling problems risked
being diagnosed with ADHD, compared to 12–18 per cent of the adolescents without any type of
gambling problem. A slightly greater proportion of who were either problem gamblers or pathological
gamblers said that they had these problems (67). Questions about ADHD were also included in the
Icelandic prevalence study on adolescents aged between 13 and 15. The results indicated that 33 per
cent of the adolescent pathological gamblers and 16 per cent of those with a gambling problem were
judged as probably fulfilling the criteria for ADHD (62).
Learning difficulties
In the above-mentioned Ontario study, a greater proportion of the adolescent problem/pathological
gamblers said that they had been diagnosed with learning difficulties and they themselves felt that
they were slower than their peers. This applied above all to the girls. Nearly twice as many girls with
some type of gambling problem said that they had learning difficulties compared to boys who were
problem/pathological gamblers. Normally among adolescents without gambling problems it is more
common for boys to have learning difficulties than girls (93).
Problems at school
Some studies indicate that adolescent problem/pathological gamblers get lower grades at school.
They are also more likely to play truant and to have to retake a year or fall out of school altogether
compared to their peers who are not problem/pathological gamblers. Moreover they also say that they
break the rules, are told off and do not bother to do their homework more often (6, 58–60, 67, 68, 72,
77, 94). Yet further studies indicate that adolescents, above all boys, who are problem/pathological
gamblers, are more prone to playing truant, neglecting their schoolwork, stealing and being involved
in violent activities compared to other adolescents. This might indicate a link between problem/
pathological gambling and behavioural disorders (i.e. anti-social behavioural patterns among adolescents,
for example truancy, shoplifting, stealing, fights, vandalism and assault) (67, 95). A study
from the International Centre for Youth Problem Gambling and High-Risk Behaviors supports this
idea where 50 per cent of the adolescent problem/pathological gamblers also fulfilled the criteria for
behavioural disorders (67).
crime
According to several studies it is more common for young people who are problem/pathological
gamblers to be involved in various types of criminal activity. They report stealing money from their
parents or selling family belongings, but they may also commit more serious crimes like embezzlement,
robberies and burglaries (3, 6, 12, 21, 22, 68, 72, 77).