Problem Gambling in Adolescence: An Analysis Conducted from the Actor’s Perspective

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study is, by using the general theory of rationality (GTR), to better understand the rationale underlying gambling behavior in adolescents considered to have gambling problems. The study explore gambling associated benefits, negative consequences of gambling, and the adolescents’ perceptions of the severity of their gambling behavior. The qualitative research is based on semi-structured interviews with 31 adolescents considered as having gambling problems. The analysis revealed that gambling behavior are based on a threefold rationality: instrumental, cognitive and axiological. The GTR allows to better understand why most of them do not consider to have gambling problems.

Disclosure statement

There is no conflict of interests (financial or non-financial interests, constraints on publishing) for any of the three authors.

Funding

This research was supported by a doctoral research grant from the Fonds Québécois de la Recherche—Société et Culture.

Notes

¹ The CAGI is an instrument for detecting gambling problems in adolescents that was developed and validated with a sample of Canadian adolescents.

² The names of the participants have been changed in the results presentation so as to protect their confidentiality.

³ Terminology from the DSM-IV-J Fisher (2000), the most commonly used tool in treatment and research for detecting and evaluating gambling problems in adolescence.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a doctoral research grant from the Fonds Québécois de la Recherche—Société et Culture.

Notes on contributors

Annie-Claude Savard

ANNIE-CLAUDE SAVARD, Ph.D. in social work, is professor at the School of Social Work at Université Laval. She is regular researcher with the Habitudes de vie Et Recherches MultidisciplinairES (HERMES) team, a research team specialized in gambling and gaming research, and collaborator researcher with the Recherche et Intervention sur les substances psychoactives—Québec (RISQ) team, a research team specialized in research and intervention in psychoactive substances. Her research focuses on gambling and substance use among adolescents and adults. This article is a part of her doctoral thesis.

Daniel Turcotte

DANIEL TURCOTTE, Ph.D. in social work, is associate professor at the School of Social Work at Université Laval. His research focuses on social work practices with children and adolescents, social work with groups, and programs evaluation. Daniel Turcotte was the main supervisor of Ms. Savard’s doctoral thesis.

Joël Tremblay

JOËL TREMBLAY, Ph.D. in psychology, is professor in the Department of Psychoeducation at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. He is the scientific director of the RISQ and researcher at the Centre de réadaptation en dépendance de Montréal—Institut universitaire sur les dépendances. His research focuses on substance abuse and pathological gambling, more specifically in psychometry and treatment. Joël Tremblay was the co-supervisor for Ms. Savard’s doctoral thesis.