Sensation Seeking and Gambling Behavior in Adolescence: Can Externalizing Problems Moderate This Relationship?

Gambling is a widespread phenomenon during adolescence. Among different risk factors involved in the onset of adolescent gambling behaviors, one factor that is studied is the sensation seeking personality trait. However, the literature is heterogeneous and a direct relationship between sensation see...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-12, Vol.17 (23), p.8986
Main Authors: Tani, Franca, Ponti, Lucia, Ghinassi, Simon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addictive behaviors
Adolescence
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Adolescents
Adult
Behavior
Child development
Drug use
Female
Gambling
Gambling - epidemiology
Gaming machines
Humans
Male
Risk analysis
Risk factors
Risk taking
Secondary schools
Sensation
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
Teenagers
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Gambling is a widespread phenomenon during adolescence. Among different risk factors involved in the onset of adolescent gambling behaviors, one factor that is studied is the sensation seeking personality trait. However, the literature is heterogeneous and a direct relationship between sensation seeking and gaming behaviors has not always been highlighted. This suggests that the relationship can be influenced by other factors. In particular, we explored the moderating role of externalizing problems in this relationship. A total of 363 adolescents (232 males and 131 females) aged 14 to 20 (M = 16.35, SD = 1.36) completed a battery of questionnaires aimed to assess their gambling behaviors, as well as the levels of externalizing problems and sensation seeking. The results showed that sensation seeking was associated with gambling severity, but this relationship was significant when externalizing problems were high and medium. On the contrary, when externalizing problems were low, the relationship between sensation seeking and gambling severity was not significant. Overall, sensation seeking in adolescence can favor the implementation of risk behaviors, such as gambling, but only in association with the presence of externalizing problems. Limitations, strengths, and social and clinical implications of the present study are discussed.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph17238986