Evaluation of a prevention program for pathological gambling among adolescents

Area of Science:

• Adolescent psychology
• Public health interventions
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Adolescent gambling is prevalent, with 2-5% experiencing pathological gambling.
• Existing prevention programs need evaluation for efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel pathological gambling prevention program for adolescents.
• To assess the program's impact on gambling knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A prevention program based on an alcohol prevention model was implemented in five high schools.
• The program covered gambling legality, commercial aspects, automatic behaviors, pathology, and coping skills.
• Experimental (N=134) and control (N=155) groups were compared pre- and post-intervention, with a six-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significant improvements in knowledge about gambling and pathological gambling.
• Participants demonstrated enhanced skills for controlling gambling behavior post-intervention.
• These improvements in knowledge and skills were sustained at the six-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The implemented prevention program is effective in enhancing adolescent gambling knowledge and control skills.
• The findings support the clinical utility of school-based prevention programs for pathological gambling.
• Further research should explore long-term impacts and broader implementation strategies.