ABSTRACT
Gambling is a rapidly growing phenomenon among adolescents associated with negative psychosocial effects. To prevent this public health problem, it is necessary to identify the factors that cause and maintain adolescent gambling. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), structural equation models were used in a sample of 1174 adolescents (aged 12-20 years) to study the effect of attitudes, subjective norms and self-efficacy on gambling intention in adolescent gamblers (n = 432) and non-gamblers (n = 742). Measurement invariance was assessed and then structural model was tested separately in gamblers and non-gamblers. The influence of past gambling experience on the TPB model was also studied through multigroup analysis. All models showed adequate fit to the data. The relationships between attitudes and self-efficacy with gambling intention were significantly stronger in gamblers subsample. These results confirmed that gambling experience increases the predictive ability of the TPB model in gamblers. TPB independent variables explained 16.2% of variance of gambling intention in non-gamblers and 32.4% in gamblers. Subsequently, the TPB model for gamblers explained 19% of variance of gambling frequency. In this last model, gambling intention partially mediates the influence of self-efficacy on gambling behavior. The subjective norm was the variable with the greatest effect on gambling intention in non-gamblers, while self-efficacy to control gambling was the exogenous variable with greatest effect on gambling frequency. The findings suggest the possibility of specific gambling prevention in adolescent gamblers and non-gamblers.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Attitude , Gambling/prevention & control , Gambling/psychology , Health Education/organization & administration , Adolescent , Attitude to Health , Female , Humans , Intention , Male , Psychological Theory , Psychology, Adolescent , Self Efficacy , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJETIVO PRINCIPAL: Analizar la asociación de conductas de riesgo para la salud en el marco de la Teoría de la Conducta Problema. METODOLOGÍA: 524 adolescentes (Medad=16,7; DT = 1,6) cumplimentaron un cuestionario online. Mediante Análisis Factorial Exploratorio se estudiaron seis conductas: borracheras, consumos de tabaco y hachís, búsqueda de sensaciones, sexo sin protección y comportamiento vial inseguro. RESULTADOS PRINCIPALES: En la adolescencia intermedia (edades 16-17) la agrupación resultó compatible con la dimensión "no convencionalidad" identificada por Jessor. Su prevalencia aumentó al finalizar la educación obligatoria. CONCLUSIÓN: Esta agrupación aconseja la prevención simultánea de dichas conductas. Dado que estos comportamientos ayudan a los adolescentes a ganar autonomía personal y relacionarse con sus iguales, su prevención no debe limitarse a informar sobre los riesgos que ocasionan. Promover conductas prosociales (p.ej., participar en la vida escolar y comunitaria) puede ayudar a los adolescentes a vivir de manera saludable su transición evolutiva
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of health risk behaviors in the framework of the Problem Behavior Theory. METHODS: 524 adolescents (Mage= 16.7, SD = 1.6) completed an online questionnaire. Through Exploratory Factor Analysis, six behaviors were studied: drunkenness, tobacco and hashish use, sensation-seeking, unsafe sex andunsafe road behavior. RESULTS: From middle adolescence (ages 16-17), behavioral grouping was consistent with "unconventionality" dimension identified by Jessor. Its prevalence increased at the end of compulsory education. CONCLUSION: This grouping suggests the simultaneous prevention of such behaviors. Since these behaviors help adolescents gain personal autonomy and relate to their friends, their prevention should not be limited to reporting the risks that cause. Promoting prosocial behaviors (eg, participating in school and community life) can help adolescents to live their development stage in a healthy way
