Underage Problem Gambling: With Whom, Where and Why

BACKGROUND: Underage gambling is a widespread phenomenon with its own characteristics that differentiate it from adult gambling. In addition, problem gambling has shown a remarkable prevalence in previous studies. The present study examines underage gambling behaviour, studying its characteristics, as well as motivational and contextual aspects, and estimating the volume of problem gambling and possible moderating variables. METHOD: A sample of 9,681 students aged between 12 and 17 years old reported their involvement in gambling and filled in the Brief Adolescent Gambling Screen (BAGS), with 4,617 of them completing a questionnaire about gambling behaviours. RESULTS: Almost a quarter (23.5%) of the students reported having gambled in their lifetime (16.2% in-person, 1.4% online and 6% in both modalities), and 1.9% presented symptoms of problem gambling (BAGS ≥ 4). In-person gamblers preferred sport-betting machines, usually gambled in bars, and did not have their age checked. Online gamblers reported mainly sports betting, doing so on websites and paying with PayPal-like services and credit cards. Most gambled with friends and to win money. Problem gamblers were similar but gambled more frequently. CONCLUSIONS: These results present an image of the gambling situation among minors and, more importantly, of its context and related variables.

Underage Problem Gambling: With Whom, Where and Why / El Juego de Azar Problemático en Menores de Edad: Con Quién, Dónde y Por Qué

Background: Underage gambling is a widespread phenomenon with its own characteristics that differentiate it fromadult gambling. In addition, problem gambling has shown a remarkable prevalence in previous studies. The presentstudy examines underage gambling behaviour, studying its characteristics, as well as motivational and contextualaspects, and estimating the volume of problem gambling and possible moderating variables. Method: A sample of 9,681students aged between 12 and 17 years old reported their involvement in gambling and filled in the Brief AdolescentGambling Screen (BAGS), with 4,617 of them completing a questionnaire about gambling behaviours. Results:Almost a quarter (23.5%) of the students reported having gambled in their lifetime (16.2% in-person, 1.4% online and6% in both modalities), and 1.9% presented symptoms of problem gambling (BAGS ≥ 4). In-person gamblers preferredsport-betting machines, usually gambled in bars, and did not have their age checked. Online gamblers reported mainlysports betting, doing so on websites and paying with PayPal-like services and credit cards. Most gambled with friendsand to win money. Problem gamblers were similar but gambled more frequently. Conclusions: These results present animage of the gambling situation among minors and, more importantly, of its context and related variables.(AU)

Antecedentes: La participación de menores de edad en juegos de azar es un fenómeno extendido con característicasdiferenciales respecto a las personas adultas y muestra una elevada prevalencia. El presente estudio examina la conductade juego en menores, estudiando sus características, aspectos motivacionales y contextuales, el volumen de juegoproblemático y las posibles variables moderadoras. Método: La muestra está compuesta por 9.681 estudiantes de 12 a17 años que cumplimentaron el Brief Adolescent Gambling Screen (BAGS), 4.617 adolescentes completaron ademásun cuestionario sobre hábitos. Resultados: El 23,5% ha apostado alguna vez en su vida (presencial: 16,2%; online:1,4%; ambas: 6%) y el 1,9% presenta síntomas de juego problemático (BAGS≥4). Quienes juegan presencialmenteprefieren las máquinas de apuestas deportivas; suelen apostar en bares y generalmente sin acreditar su edad. Quienesjuegan online principalmente hacen apuestas deportivas, a través de páginas web y pagan con servicios tipo PayPal ytarjetas de crédito. Suelen apostar con amigos y para ganar dinero, aunque mayoritariamente reconocen que es pocoprobable que esto llegue a ocurrir. Los/as jugadores/as problemáticos muestran características similares, pero apuestancon mayor frecuencia. Conclusiones: Estos resultados muestran la situación del juego en menores y permite determinarsus variables contextuales relacionadas.(AU)

Hábitos de juego y síntomas de adicción a los videojuegos en adolescentes españoles / Gambling habits and symptoms of video game addiction in Spanish adolescents

El trastorno por uso de videojuegos ha recibido mayor atención desde su inclusión en la CIE-11. Sin embargo, apenas hay investigación en menores de edad en el contexto español. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo de explorar los hábitos de uso de videojuegos y la sintomatología del trastorno por uso de videojuegos en esta población, así como analizar la relación entre ambos. Los hábitos fueron evaluados como la frecuencia y las horas semanales jugadas y la “Escala de adicción al juego para adolescentes” (GASA) fue aplicada a una muestra de 3748 estudiantes de entre 12 y 17 años. Los resultados mostraron que el 13,5% presentaba síntomas de juego problemático y el 3,3% una posible adicción a los videojuegos. También fue encontrada una relación entre los hábitos de juego y la presencia de síntomas de adicción. Estos resultados se comparan con los de otros estudios y se pone de manifiesto la heterogeneidad de datos disponibles en este ámbito. Además, se discuten las implicaciones de los resultados para posibles acciones preventivas llevadas a cabo por desarrolladores y familias. (AU)

Gaming disorder has been receiving increased attention since its inclusion in the ICD-11. However, there are still few studies on minors in the Spanish context. The present study aimed to explore the gaming habits and symptomatology of gaming disorder in this population, as well as analyzing the relationship between both. Gaming habits were assessed such as frequency and weekly hours played and the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents was applied to a sample of 3748 students between 12 and 17 years old. It was found that 13.5% presented symptoms of problematic gaming and 3.3% a possible video game addiction. There was also a relationship between gambling habits and the presence of addiction symptoms. These results are compared to other studies and the heterogeneity of data available in the field is highlighted. Additionally, the implications of the results for preventive actions carried out by developers and families are discussed. (AU)

Menores y consumo de cannabis: un análisis por género y edad / Minors and cannabis use: an analysis by gender and age

El consumo de cannabis sigue constituyendo a día de hoy uno de los principales problemas de salud pública en la población juvenil tanto española como europea. A las elevadas prevalencias de consumo actuales se unen nuevos formatos y nuevos rituales de consumo, niveles de THC significativamente mayores y edades de inicio especialmente tempranas, lo cual suscita una creciente preocupación social, especialmente cuando nos referimos a adolescentes. El presente trabajo, llevado a cabo con una muestra de casi 4.000 estudiantes de 12 a 17 años de la comunidad gallega, no sólo permite constatar los elevados niveles de consumo existentes a edades tempranas y tasas de consumo problemático alarmantes, sino que evidencia la interesante interacción entre las variables género y edad, que se da en las fases iniciales del consumo. Asumir que en términos generales puede haber o no diferencias de género en el consumo de cannabis implica ignorar el papel de las normas y roles de género en los procesos de socialización de las y los adolescentes. De forma más concreta, se ha constatado niveles de consumo y consumo problemático (evaluado a través del CAST) significativamente mayores entre las chicas a los 14-15 años, produciéndose una progresiva masculinización del consumo de cannabis a partir de dicha edad. Estos resultados poseen interesantes implicaciones a la hora de diseñar nuevas estrategias y políticas de prevención. (AU)

Cannabis use continues to be one of the main public health problems in the Spanish and European youth population. The current high prevalence of consumption is compounded by new formats and new consumption rituals, significantly higher THC levels and particularly early age of onset, which is of growing social concern, especially when referring to adolescents. The present study, carried out with a sample of almost 4,000 students aged 12 to 17 years in the Galician community, not only allows us to confirm the high levels of consumption at early ages and alarming rates of problematic consumption, but also shows the interesting interaction between gender and age variables, which occurs in the initial phases of consumption. Assuming that in general terms there may or may not be gender differences in cannabis use implies ignoring the role of gender norms and roles in the socialization processes of adolescents. More specifically, significantly higher levels of consumption and problematic use (assessed through the CAST) have been found among girls at 14-15 years of age, with a progressive masculinization of cannabis use from that age onwards. These results have interesting implications for the design of new prevention strategies and policies. (AU)

A Meta-Analytical Review of Gender-Based School Bullying in Spain.

School bullying continues to be one of the main challenges for the education community. Current research indicates that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, and other LGBT+ people suffer the highest rates of bullying, while other studies suggest that this bullying does not occur based on the victim's actual sexual orientation or gender identity, but because they do not fit into the traditional gender roles. The aim of the present study was to carry out a meta-analytical study on the prevalence of gender-based bullying against LGBT+ schoolchildren and adolescents in Spain. METHODS: The review was carried out following the recommendations of the PRISMA group and allowing us to identify a total of 24 studies. All of these studies were published since 2008, and most of them conducted cross-sectional survey-type research. It was also found that the instrument used to assess bullying varied greatly among studies, resulting in an enormous heterogeneity of research on this topic. Different meta-analyses were carried out according to the profile of involvement in bullying: victimisation, perpetration, and observation. In addition, three target populations were detected in the victimisation research: the general population, pre-identified bullying victims reporting the reasons behind the victimisation, and LGBT+ people. RESULTS: The meta-analyses conducted with R have estimated the prevalence of observation of gender-based school bullying in Spain at 77.3%, perpetration at 13.3%, and victimisation at 8.6% among the general population. When the research focuses on previously identified victims, the rate was 3.6%, while if LGBT+ people are approached directly, the percentage increases to 51%. CONCLUSIONS: These rates reveal the need to develop specific preventive strategies in schools. Greater awareness of affective-sexual diversity and respect for those who do not conform to traditional gender roles should be promoted.

Sex Differences in Adolescent Bullying Behaviours / Las diferencias de sexo en las conductas de acoso de los adolescentes

In recent decades there has been a progressive increase in concern and research into the problems of peer aggression, both in the educational setting and more recently, online. The present study sought to explore sex differences in traditional bullying and cyberbullying, since current literature has not reached a consensus in how bullying involvement could be moderated by sex. The sample consisted of 3,174 adolescents aged 12-17 years old who completed a paper survey which included the European Bullying Intervention Project Questionnaire and the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire. The main results found no differences in cyberbullying rates for boys and girls. In the case of bullying, there were more bully-victims among the boys, but no differences were found in the pure victims or pure perpetrators. When analysing the specific bullying behaviours suffered or perpetrated, several differences were found. However, said differences were discrete and it seems that there are not distinctly differentiated bullying patterns, which discourages the use of clearly differentiated preventive strategies for boys and girls. (AU)

En las últimas décadas ha ido creciendo la preocupación por las agresiones entre iguales y su investigación, tanto en el propio entorno escolar como, más recientemente, a través de la red. El presente estudio se planteó con el objetivo de explorar las diferencias de sexo tanto en el acoso tradicional como en el ciberacoso, pues la bibliografía existente no llega a un consenso sobre la forma en que la implicación en el acoso puede estar siendo moderada por el sexo o el género. La muestra constó de 3,174 adolescentes de 12 a 17 años que cumplimentaron por escrito una encuesta que incluía el European Bullying Intervention Project Questionnaire y el European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire. Los principales resultados no mostraron diferencias en las tasas de ciberacoso de chicas y chicos. Respecto al acoso tradicional, aunque se han hallado más víctimas-agresoras en los chicos, no se han encontrado diferencias en la tasa de víctimas y agresores puros. Al analizar las conductas específicas sufridas o perpetradas, se encontraron varias diferencias entre chicas y chicos. Sin embargo, esas diferencias eran pequeñas y no parece que haya un patrón de acoso claramente diferenciado, lo que desaconseja emplear estrategias preventivas claramente diferenciadas para chicas y para chicos. (AU)

Cyberbullies, the Cyberbullied, and Problematic Internet Use: Some Reasonable Similarities.

BACKGROUND: The spread of the internet and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have completely changed society in the last few decades. The transfer of traditional face-to-face bullying to the virtual environment is one of the risks adolescents face in this new reality. The present study sought to explore the relationship between involvement in cyberbullying and behaviours such as internet and mobile usage and other risky online behaviours. METHOD: The sample consisted of 3,188 adolescents aged 12-17 years old (Mean= 14.44; SD= 1.67). RESULTS: The application of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIPQ) found that 5.2% were victims, 4.5% perpetrators and 4.3% bully-victims. CONCLUSIONS: Results also showed that cyberbullying seems to be associated with both Problematic Internet Use and behaviours such as sexting, gambling and contacting strangers, which suggests a need for a comprehensive approach for preventing all these issues. Moreover, parental monitoring could serve as a modulating factor, which should also be taken into account in the development of appropriate prevention strategies.

Bullying and Cyberbullying among Students with Cochlear Implants.

Bullying is a significant problem for young people nowadays, regardless of their identity, culture, or background. Although the scientific evidence warns of a greater impact of bullying on vulnerable groups such as cochlear implant (CI) users, few specific studies have been carried out in this regard. As such, the fundamental objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of both traditional bullying and cyberbullying among Spanish adolescents and young people with CI. Parents with children CI users were also invited to participate to explore their perspective concerning the victimization of their children. The information was collected using one survey for students aged 11-23 year (n = 102) and another for parents (n = 127). Beyond the frequency and types of bullying suffered or the methods used for coping with victimization, results also show lower rates of bullying when students were asked specifically with a single-item question than when applying multi-item questionnaires. The results are discussed in terms of the broader international bullying and victimization literature.

Cyberbullies, the Cyberbullied, and Problematic Internet Use: Some Reasonable Similarities / Ciberacosados, Ciberacosadores y Uso Problemático de Internet: Algunos Parecidos Razonables

Background: The spread of the internet and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have completely changed society inthe last few decades. The transfer of traditional face-to-face bullying to the virtual environment is one of the risks adolescents face in this new reality. The present study sought to explore the relationship between involvement in cyberbullying and behaviours such as internet and mobile usage and other risky online behaviours. Method: The sample consisted of 3,188 adolescents aged 12-17 years old (Mean= 14.44; SD= 1.67). Results: The application of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIPQ) found that 5.2% were victims, 4.5% perpetrators and 4.3% bully-victims. Conclusions: Results also showed that cyberbullying seems to be associated with both Problematic Internet Use and behaviours such as sexting, gambling and contacting strangers, which suggests a need for a comprehensive approach for preventing all these issues. Moreover, parental monitoring could serve as a modulating factor, which should also be taken into account in the development of appropriate prevention strategies. (AU)

Antecedentes: el uso generalizado de Internet y de las Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (TIC) ha cambiado completamente la sociedad en las últimas décadas. La transferencia del tradicional acoso escolar al entorno virtual es uno de los riesgos a los que se enfrentan los adolescentes en esta nueva realidad. El presente estudio se planteó como objetivo explorar la relación entre ciberacoso y uso de Internet y teléfono móvil y otras conductas de riesgo en línea. Método: la muestra estuvo compuesta por 3.188 adolescentes de entre 12 y 17 años (Media= 14,44; DT= 1,67). Resultados: tras aplicar el European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIPQ) se encontró que el 5,2% eran víctimas, 4,5% agresores y el 4,3% víctimasagresoras. Conclusiones: el ciberacoso parece estar asociado tanto al uso problemático de Internet como a comportamientos como el sexting, el juego online o el contacto con desconocidos a través de la Red, lo que sugiere la necesidad de un enfoque integral a nivel de prevención. Además, la supervisión parental constituiría un importante elemento modulador, lo cual debe ser tenido en cuenta para la elaboración de estrategias preventivas efi caces. (AU)

Minors and Online Gambling: Prevalence and Related Variables.

Substantial access to the Internet by minors has brought about consequences that are not always positive. The increase of online gambling or betting is one of those. Although in most cases online gambling by minors does not result in a disorder, it does imply a higher probability of developing a gambling disorder in adulthood, and it can cause economic, family, school and social problems. The aim of this study, carried out in the Galician region of Spain with a sample of 3772 students aged between 12 and 17 years, was to estimate the prevalence of online gambling in minors; to characterize the profile of online gamblers; to explore the differences in Internet and smartphone usage habits, online risky practices, problematic Internet use and parental involvement between online gamblers and non-online gamblers; and to analyse the relation between online gambling and academic performance. The results revealed that 6.5% of Galician adolescents are online gamblers, a figure that has more than tripled over seven years. 9 out of 10 online gamblers are male, and their mean age is 15. Online gamblers had significantly higher rates of problematic Internet use, active sexting, cyberbullying, or contacting strangers through the Internet. Furthermore, online gamblers had higher scores on impulsiveness, lower scores on assertiveness, and were lacking parental control. These data show that online gambling is not an isolated problem, so prevention should be understood in a comprehensive manner.