The symptoms associated with gambling and gaming problems during adolescence: comparative study according to gender
Many studies have documented the presence of gambling problems in adolescent populations. The prevalence of pathological gambling would be even higher among adolescents than in adult populations. This article presents a summary of the studies conducted in Quebec with adolescent populations on the prevalence of pathological gambling, with a focus on gender differences. It begins with a description of boys’ and girls’ gambling patterns, based on a study involving 1,870 high-school students between 14 and 18 years of age. Next, the symptom criteria for problem gambling (DSM-IV-MR-J ; Fisher, 2000) self-reported by boys and girls with gambling problems are explored. The results show that nearly one in ten present gambling problems. Despite a difference in the proportion of boys and girls presenting gambling problems, girls appear to have the same symptoms as boys do except for one criteria. Boys who are problem gamblers are more likely to report concerns about their gambling habits than girls are.