A longitudinal study of family influences on gambling behavior in early adulthood

Jennifer L McComb, Purdue University

Abstract

This study examined the longitudinal association between family relationships and gambling behavior in early adulthood. Participants aged 12-13 years (N = 1293) completed a baseline questionnaire during fall 1999 and follow-up data on family relationships and worry about family financial problems were collected every 3-4 months for 5 years. The current study used data from the year most proximal to early adulthood (survey cycles 16 to 20), when participants were aged 16-17 years (M = 16.6). In 2007-2008, 873 participants (aged 21-22 years) provided data on frequency of gambling behaviors (playing games for money, betting money and buying lottery tickets). Study 1 examined worries about family relationships and family financial problems during adolescence as predictors of gambling behavior in early adulthood. Controlling for the influence of sociodemographic variables in regressions analyses, worry about family relationships and parental separation or divorce were not significant predictors of gambling behavior in early adulthood. Worry about family financial problems was a significant predictor of lottery play. Study 2 examined the association between gambling risk factors present during adolescence and gambling behavior in early adulthood, and if worries about family relationships and family financial problems moderated this relationship. Hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for the influence of relevant sociodemographic variables, were conducted. Numerous risk factors present during adolescence (gender, impulsivity, alcohol use, cigarette use and school problems) were associated with unique gambling outcomes in early adulthood. Adolescents’ worry about family financial problems, worry about relationship with father and sibling(s), and worry about parental separation or divorce moderated the association between gambling risk factors (i.e., gender, alcohol use) and gambling behavior in early adulthood. These findings highlight the importance of examining family financial problems as a possible antecedent to gambling and family relationships and processes as moderators of gambling behavior.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Sprenkle, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Behavioral psychology|Health sciences|Individual & family studies

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