This study empirically examined physiological, social, and emotional variables in order to extend the understanding of the vulnerability-stress interaction in relation to adolescent problem gambling behaviour. Specifically, the relationship between coping styles, life stress, depressive symptomatology, dissociative states, drug and alcohol use, and youth gambling problems were investigated from the framework of Jacobs' General Theory of Addictions . The current study also examined several potential protective factors (socioeconomic status, social support, and adaptive coping styles) that are believed to buffer against possible negative outcomes associated with youth gambling behaviour. Students consisted of 2,156 students in grades 7 to 12 (ages 11 to 19) recruited from various elementary and high schools in Ontario, Canada. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding gambling activities, social support, dissociation, drug and alcohol use (GAQ), gambling severity (DSM-IV-MR-J), arousal (AISS), stressful life events (APES), depressive symptomatology (RADS), and coping styles (CISS). Socioeconomic status was based on parental level of education and occupation. With respect to gambling severity as assessed by the DSM-IV-MR-J gambling screen, 2.7% of adolescents were found to be probable pathological gamblers, and 6.6% at-risk gamblers. Problem gamblers demonstrated significantly higher scores on measures of arousal, dissociation, and drug and alcohol use. Emotionally, they demonstrated increased problems related to depression, suicide ideation and attempts, and emotion-focused coping. This study expanded on Jacobs' General Theory of Addictions by investigating several protective factors thought to mediate between different types of life stressors and potential gambling problems. This study also sought to identify a set of predictor variables that would increase risk for youth gambling difficulties, including intensity seeking behaviour,
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.82898 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Kaufman, Felicia D. |
| Contributors | Derevensky, Jeffrey (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001984197, proquestno: AAINQ88494, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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