The Relationship Between Universal Human Values and Adolescent Problem and Pathological Gambling

Abstract

This article derives statistical models relating adolescents’ universal human values with their problem and pathological gambling. An adolescent's values are measured by the priority accorded to each value using the Schwartz Values Inventory, whereas problem or pathological gambling, if any, is indicated by his or her answers to the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Among other complex results, statistical analysis suggests that the value subtypes of “non-faith tradition,” “faith tradition,” and “macro-universalism” and the value type “stimulation” are associated with less problem and pathological gambling. Among other uses, such findings help identify high-risk adolescents.

KEYWORDS:

• Human values
• Schwartz's Value Inventory
• problem or pathological gambling
• South Oaks Gambling Screen
• adolescent

Acknowledgments

This article was supported by Grant YISS2010-05 of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region. The author thanks Dr. Jonathan Fearon-Jones for his proofreading.