Characterization and prediction of gambling behavior in adolescents using the COM-B model.

Gambling is an international phenomenon, posing a serious threat to adolescents who begin gambling at a young age. This study aims, to explore gambling behavior in adolescents and interpret its risk factors. We conducted a three-waves cohort longitudinal study assessing gambling and associated risk factors in south-eastern Spain. Data were analyzed using the Capabilities, Opportunities, Motivations, Behavior (COM-B) model and the partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) technique. Gambling was measured by frequency and money spent; associated factors were knowledge about gambling, parental attitude towards gambling, risk perception, normative perception, and intention to gamble. These items were assigned as indicators of each construct of the COM-B model-capability, opportunity, motivation, and behavior-using the theoretical domains framework. Once the behavior was performed, feedback on future capability, opportunity, and motivation was observed. Results show that capability, determined by past experience, and opportunity, determined by parental attitudes, motivates adolescents to seek gambling experiences in the future. Identifying such factors that affect gambling behavior in adolescents and establishing relationships between them through a robust theoretical model is essential for designing effective interventions.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Gambling Predictors among Adolescents.

Although gambling is forbidden for minors, the prevalence of gambling among adolescents is increasing. In order to improve preventive interventions, more evidence on predictors of gambling onset is needed. A longitudinal study was proposed to (1) establish the prevalence of gambling; (2) identify factors associated with gambling behavior the following year; and (3) adjust a model to predict gambling behavior. A cohort of 1074 students (13-18 years old) was followed for 12 months. The prevalence of gambling reached 42.0% in the second measure. Boys gambled 2.7 times more than girls, and the highest percentages of gambling onset showed up between 13 and 14 years old. Gambling onset and maintenance was associated with gender, age, sensation-seeking, risk perception, self-efficacy for not gambling, parents' attitude towards gambling, group pressure (friends), subjective norm, exposure to advertising, accessibility, normative perception, gambling in T1 and parents gambling behavior. Gender, gambling in T1 and risk perception were significant in all three logistic adjusted regression models, with the fourth variable being sensation seeking, peer pressure (friends) and accessibility, respectively. It is suggested that universal prevention should be aimed preferably at children under 15 years old and to alert regulators and public administrations to the directly proportional relationship between accessibility and gambling onset.

Family-Based Intervention Program for Parents of Substance-Abusing Youth and Adolescents.

The use of drugs among adolescents/youth often results in a high degree of distress for the family members who live with them. This in turn can lead to a deterioration of mental (psychological) health, hindering any attempt to successfully cope with the situation. The goal of our research was to study the effect of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) program on parents of adolescents/young adult drug users. Study volunteers (n = 50) were parents from Valencia (Spain) that were divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 25) was made up of parents whose sons and daughters exhibited problems with drug use and the constructed noncausal baseline group (n = 25) was made up of parents whose sons and daughters did not show any substance abuse problems. For both groups, self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), depression (BDI-II), anxiety (STAI), and anger (STAXI-II) were evaluated before and after the application of the CRAFT program. Results show a significant improvement in the experimental group's self-esteem, depression, and anger state and a decrease in negative moods. These changes in parents produce a positive effect on their substance-using sons and daughters: of the 25 participants, 15 contacted specialized addiction treatment resources for the first time.

[Eating Disorders and drug use in adolescents]. / Trastornos de la conducta alimentaria y consumo de drogas en población adolescente.

The aim of the study was to show whether there was a connection between drug use and Eating Disorders, as well as to identify the type of drugs most widely used and to ascertain whether they are used to suppress appetite. An "ad hoc" scale was developed using the items of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, whose aim is to detect cases at risk of certain types of eating disorder, and items for assessing drug use. This scale was applied to samples of teenagers (n=446) aged 13-18 from various secondary schools in the Valencia Region (Comunidad Valenciana) in Spain. An association was found between teenagers that use drugs, and particularly between the variable "use of some kind of drug as an appetite suppressant", and being at risk of having an eating disorder. Tobacco was the drug most commonly used (accounting for 66% of those within the risk threshold of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale). We conclude that those teenagers from the sample who fall within any of the risk thresholds consume more drugs than those who do not fall within the risk threshold of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale. Stimulant-type drugs are those most widely used by these teenagers with the aim of suppressing appetite.

Trastornos de la conducta alimentaria y consumo de drogas en población adolescente / Eating Disorders and drug use in adolescents

El estudio tuvo como objetivos demostrar si existía relación entre el consumo de drogas y los trastornos de conducta alimentaria, así como qué tipo de drogas son las más utilizadas y si estas se utilizan para suprimir el apetito. Se desarrolló una escala «ad hoc» formada por los ítems de la Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, cuyo objeto es detectar los casos de riesgo de padecer algún tipo de Trastorno de la Conducta Alimentaria, y por ítems cuyo objeto era evaluar el consumo de drogas en una muestra de 446 adolescentes estudiantes de 1º de la enseñanza secundaria obligatoria a 2º de Bachillerato de distintos Institutos de Educación Secundaria de la Comunidad Valenciana, con edades comprendidas entre los 13 y 18 años de edad. Se encontró una relación entre los adolescentes que consumían drogas y el encontrarse en algunos de los umbrales de riesgo de la escala utilizada (χ2(1, N=444)=3.87; p=.049) no habiendo relación estadísticamente significativa con la variable "tipo de droga" (Alcohol, estimulantes, tabaco u otras). No obstante se aprecia una relación significativa entre la variable "utilizar algún tipo de droga como supresora del apetito" y estar en riesgo de padecer un Trastorno de la Conducta Alimentaria siendo el tabaco la droga más utilizada (66% de los englobados en el umbral de riesgo de la Eating Disorder Diagnotic Scale). Se concluyó que los adolescentes de la muestra analizada que se engloban en alguno de los umbrales de riesgo consumen más drogas que los adolescentes que no se engloban en dicho umbral de la Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, siendo las drogas de tipo estimulante las más utilizadas por estos adolescentes con el objeto de suprimir el apetito(AU)

The aim of the study was to show whether there was a connection between drug use and Eating Disorders, as well as to identify the type of drugs most widely used and to ascertain whether they are used to suppress appetite. An "ad hoc" scale was developed using the items of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, whose aim is to detect cases at risk of certain types of eating disorder, and items for assessing drug use. This scale was applied to samples of teenagers (n=446) aged 13-18 from various secondary schools in the Valencia Region (Comunidad Valenciana) in Spain. An association was found between teenagers that use drugs, and particularly between the variable "use of some kind of drug as an appetite suppressant", and being at risk of having an eating disorder. Tobacco was the drug most commonly used (accounting for 66% of those with in the risk thre shold of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale). We conclude that those teenagers from the sample who fall within any of the risk thresholds consume more drugs than those who do not fall with in the risk threshold of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale. Stimulant-type drugs are those most widely used by these teenagers with the aim of suppressing appetite(AU)