Digital gambling is the fastest growing form of gambling in the world (Reilly & Smith, 2013a). Technological advancements continually increase access to gambling, which has led to increased social acceptance and uptake (Dragicevic & Tsogas, 2014) with Roulette being among the most popular games played both online and on Electronic Gaming Machines. In response, gambling stakeholders have drawn on the structural characteristics of gambling platforms to develop and improve Responsible Gambling (RG) devices for casual gamblers. Many RG data-tracking systems employ intuitive ‘traffic-light’ metaphors that enable gamblers to monitor their gambling (e.g. Wood & Griffiths, 2008), though uptake of voluntary RG devices is low (Schellinck & Schrans, 2011), leading to calls for mandatory RG systems. Another area that has received considerable RG research focus involves the use of pop-up messages (Auer & Griffiths, 2014). Studies have examined various message content, such as correcting erroneous beliefs, encouraging self-appraisal, gambling cessation, and the provision of personalised feedback. To date, findings have been inconsistent but promising. A shift towards the use of personalised information has become the preferred RG strategy, though message content and timing/frequency requires improvement (Griffiths, 2014). Moreover, warning messages are unable to provide continuous feedback to gamblers. In response to this, and calls for a ‘risk meter’ to improve monitoring of gambling behaviours (Wiebe & Philander, 2013), this thesis tested the impact of a risk meter alongside improved pop-up warning messages as RG devices for within-session roulette gambling. The thesis aimed to establish the optimal application of these devices for facilitating safer gambling behaviours. In support of the aims of RG research to evaluate the impact of devices on gambling attitudes and behaviours, the Elaboration Likelihood Model was identified as a suitable framework to test the proposed RG devices (Petty & Cacioppo, 1986). Both the interactive risk meter and pop-up messages were developed based on existing methods and recommendations in the RG literature, and examined via a series of laboratory-based roulette simulation experiments. Overall, results found the risk meter to be most effective when used as an interactive probability meter. Self-appraisal/Informative pop-up warnings were examined alongside expenditure-specific and hyrbid warnings. Findings showed that hybrid messages containing both types of information to be most effective, with optimal display points at 75%, 50%, 25% and 10% of remaining gambling credit. The final study tested both optimised devices (probability meter and hybrid messages). Results showed that using both RG devices in combination was most effective in facilitating reduced gambling risk and early within-session gambling cessation. Findings support the use of personalised, interactive RG devices using accurate context-specific information for the facilitation of safer gambling. The ELM was shown to be an effective model for testing RG devices, though findings suggested only temporary shifts in attitude change and a lack of impact on future gambling intentions. Overall, support for the implementation of RG devices that facilitate positive, temporary behaviour change that do not negatively impact on broader gambling attitudes or gambling enjoyment. Implications for theory, implementation, and RG frameworks are discussed, alongside recommendations for future research.

Background: European studies on determinants and factors associated with problematic smartphone use (PSU) in children and adolescents are still sparse. This study reports the current amount of PSU symptoms and the presence of (clinically relevant) PSU in German children and adolescents. We also investigated associations between sociodemographic factors, different smartphone usage patterns, and daily smartphone usage time and the amount of PSU symptoms in this group. In addition, associations of PSU symptoms and high smartphone usage times (> 2 h/day) with behavioural problems, quality of life (QoL), and school performance were investigated. Methods: Within the framework of the LIFE Child study, 564 children and adolescents aged 10–18 years provided information on PSU symptoms (using the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale), daily smartphone usage time, smartphone activities, behavioural strengths and difficulties (using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), QoL (using the KIDSCREEN-27), and school performance. Multiple regression analyses were applied to assess associations. Results: In the present sample, PSU was present in 13 children (2.3%). Older age, female gender, high daily smartphone usage time of > 2 h, and intensive smartphone use for social networking, gaming, or watching video clips were significantly associated with more PSU symptoms. Children and adolescents reporting more PSU symptoms also showed lower QoL, more behavioural difficulties, and poorer school performance, independently of age, gender, socio-economic status, and daily smartphone usage time. In contrast, daily smartphone usage time per se showed only weak or non-significant associations with these aspects of health and behaviour. Conclusion: Intensive smartphone use for entertainment may increase the risk of developing PSU symptoms. Furthermore, the results indicate that PSU symptoms (more than long smartphone usage times per se) are associated with more behavioural difficulties and poorer QoL

Introducció: L'addicció a Internet i l'abús d'altres tecnologies són tòpics molt estudiats en els darrers anys malgrat encara no s'ha aconseguit el consens respecte al seu diagnòstic, definició i instruments per a la seva detecció. Objectiu principal: Analitzar si Internet, el telèfon mòbil, els jocs de rol en línia (MMORPG) i altres tecnologies de la informació i la comunicació poden ser addictives. En cas que ho siguin, explorar i descriure les característiques que tindrien aquestes addiccions i elaborar un instrument per al seu diagnòstic.Instruments utilitzats: CERI, CERM, Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) i Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R). Anàlisis: bibliomètrica, teòrica, psicomètrica, correlacional i de regressió.Resultats: En l'anàlisi bibliomètrica s'observà que els anys de més producció científica sobre l'addicció a Internet, mòbil i videojocs foren el 2004 i el 2005. "Internet Addiction" es la cerca que produeix més resultats i l'anglès és l'idioma principal. De l'anàlisi teòrica s'extreuen els criteris diagnòstics per a l'addicció a Internet: dependència psicològica (focalització, pèrdua de control, craving i modificacions en l'estat d'ànim) i efectes perjudicials greus (intra i interpersonals). En l'anàlisi psicomètrica s'elaboren el CERI i el CERM, dues escales breus que avaluen les conseqüències negatives degudes a un ús excessiu d'Internet i mòbil, respectivament. Les dones es caracteritzaren per utilitzar el mòbil com a mitjà per expressar i comunicar les emocions i tenir, en general, puntuacions més elevades en el CERM. L'ús d'ambdues tecnologies és més problemàtic en l'adolescència. L'anàlisi correlacional i de regressió mostrà relació entre la Intel·ligència Emocional Percebuda i l'ús desadaptatiu d'Internet i de mòbil. En major grau, l'ús desadaptatiu d'Internet mostrà relació amb el malestar psicològic.Conclusions: Internet i, concretamentels jocs de rol en línia (MMORPG) i els xats oberts (IRC), són susceptibles de provocar addicció i efectes perjudicials greus. Les altres tecnologies poden provocar abús, sobre tot, en els més joves. El CERI i CERM són dues escales que faciliten la detecció de les conseqüències negatives degudes a l'abús però que no substitueixen l'entrevista clínica diagnòstica. S'observa una prevalença baixa d'addicció a Internet i d'abús de mòbil entre els joves universitaris. El tractament per addicció a MMORPG ha de ser multimodal, flexible i individualitzat i els criteris per al diagnòstic han de ser menys rigorosos i apostar per una detecció precoç i preventiva. / Introducción: La adicción a Internet y el abuso de otras tecnologías son tópicos muy estudiados en los últimos años aunque todavía no se ha alcanzado el consenso respecto a su diagnóstico, definición e instrumentos para su detección.Objetivo principal: Analizar si Internet, el teléfono móvil, los juegos de rol en línea (MMORPG) y otras tecnologías de la información y la comunicación pueden ser adictivas. En caso de que lo sean, explorar y describir las características que tendrían dichas adicciones y elaborar un instrumento para su diagnóstico.Instrumentos utilizados: CERI, CERM, Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) y Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R). Análisis: bibliométrico, teórico, psicométrico, correlacional y de regresión.Resultados: En el análisis bibliométrico se observó que los años de más producción científica sobre la adicción a Internet, móvil y videojuegos fueron el 2004 y el 2005. "Internet Addiction" es la búsqueda que produce más resultados y el inglés es el idioma principal. Del análisis teórico se extraen los criterios diagnósticos para la adicción a Internet: dependencia psicológica (focalización, pérdida de control, craving y modificaciones en el estado de ánimo) y efectos perjudiciales graves (intra e interpersonales). En el análisis psicométrico se elaboran el CERI y el CERM, dos escalas breves que evalúan las consecuencias negativas debidas a un uso excesivo de Internet y móvil, respectivamente. Las mujeres se caracterizaron por utilizar el móvil como medio para expresar y comunicar las emociones y tener, en general, puntuaciones más elevadas en el CERM. El uso de ambas tecnologías es más problemático en la adolescencia. El análisis correlacional y de regresión mostró relación entre la Inteligencia Emocional Percibida y el uso desadaptativo de Internet y de móvil. En mayor grado, el uso desadaptativo de Internet mostró relación con el malestar psicológico.Conclusiones: Internet y, concretamente los juegos de rol en línea (MMORPG) y los chats abiertos (IRC), son susceptibles de provocar adicción y efectos perjudiciales graves. Las otras tecnologías pueden provocar abuso, sobre todo, en los más jóvenes. El CERI y CERM son dos escalas que facilitan la detección de las consecuencias negativas debidas al abuso pero que no sustituyen la entrevista clínica diagnóstica. Se observa una prevalencia baja de adicción a Internet y de abuso de móvil entre los jóvenes universitarios. El tratamiento por adicción en MMORPG tiene que ser multimodal, flexible e individualizado y los criterios para el diagnóstico tienen que ser menos rigurosos y apostar por una detección precoz y preventiva. / Introduction: Internet addiction and the abuse of other technologies are much studied topics in the last years in spite of it has not been achieved the consensus about its diagnosis, definition and instruments for its detection.Main goal: Analyzing if on-line role-play games (MMORPG) and other information and communication technologies can be addictives. In case they are, exploring and describing the characteristics that these addictions would have, and developing an instrument for its diagnosis.Used instruments: CERI, CERM, Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) and Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R). Analysis: bibliometric, theoretical, psychometric, correlation and regression analysis.Results: In bibliometric analysis it was observed that the years of more scientific production about Internet addiction, cell phone and video games were 2004 and 2005. "Internet Addiction" is the search that produces more results and the English is the main language. The diagnostic criteria are extracted for Internet addiction in the theoretical analysis: psychological dependence (salience, loss of control, craving and mood modifications) and serious adverse effects (intra and interpersonal). CERI and CERM are elaborated in the psychometric analysis. They are two brief scales that evaluate negative consequences due to an excessive use of Internet and cell phone, respectively. Women were characterized by using the cell phone to express and communicating emotions and they have, in general, higher scores in CERM. The use of both technologies is more problematic in the adolescence. The correlation and regression analysis show the relation between the Perceived Emotional Intelligence and the Internet and cell phone disadaptative use. In major degree, disadaptative use of Internet shows relation with the psychological distress.Conclusions: Internet and, precisely, on-line role-play games (MMORPG) and Internet Real Chat are susceptible of provoking addiction and serious adverse effects. The other technologies can develop abuse, overall, in the youngest. CERI and CERM are two scales that facilitate the detection of negative consequences due to the abuse but they cannot substitute the diagnostic clinical interview. There is a low prevalence of Internet addiction and cell phone abuse among the college students. The treatment from addiction in MMORPG has to be multimodal, flexible and individualized and the criteria for the diagnosis have to be less rigorous and to consider a precocious and preventive detection.

The diploma thesis called "The Attitudes of Youth towards Addictive Substances and Prevention in Kralupy nad Vltavou" consists of theoretical and practical part. It contains a total of eight chapters. Professional literature was used for the creation of the theoretical part. The theoretical part focuses on the concept of youth, the description of specific legal and illegal addictive substances, non-substance or behavioral addictions, categories of users of addictive substances, the position of curator for children and youth and prevention. The practical part contains the results of quantitative research represented by graphs and the final discussion. The graphs used in the practical part describe the findings of the quantitative research conducted in three educational institutions in Kralupy nad Vltavou using anonymous questionnaires. Practical part of this diploma theses answers questions about the attitudes of young people in Kralupy nad Vltavou to addictive substances, questions concerning the use of modern technologies and last but not least questions concerning prevention.