Gambling in Connecticut Adolescents: Prevalence, Socio-demographic Characteristics, Trauma Exposure, Suicidality, and Other Risk Behaviors

Abstract

AbstractAdolescent gambling is a public health concern and has been linked to suicidality and other risk behaviors and poor health correlates. This study examines relationships between adolescents reporting gambling in the past-year and a range of health risk behaviors, traumatic experiences, school performance, and receipt of social support. Data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey in Connecticut high-school students stratified by gambling status were examined in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Among 1,807 adolescents, past-year gambling was reported by 453 or 25.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]=22.7-28.1%). Gambling prevalence was higher among older males and lower in adolescents of Asian origin. Gambling was further associated with suicidality and risk behaviors including substance use, smoking (traditional tobacco and electronic vapor use), risky use of digital technologies, unsafe sex, and aggressive behaviors. Gambling was also associated with traumatic experiences, depression/dysphoria, poor academic performance, and less social support from the family and teachers. The results of this study provide an up-to-date estimate of the current prevalence and correlates of gambling among Connecticut adolescents and underscores the importance of routine screening and monitoring of gambling behaviors, as well as interventions for other risk behaviors in this population.