Context. Both early initiation into gambling (Rahman et al., 2012; Slutske et al., 2014) and conduct problems (Welte et al., 2009, 2011) have been identified as independent risk factors for later gambling problems. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the associations between these two risk factors, as well as their predictive relationship with gambling initiation among children and adolescents. Research Question. Are conduct problems a risk factor for early initiation into gambling, over and above other known risk factors?
Method. This study used data from an ongoing prospective, longitudinal study at the Université de Sherbrooke in order to examine gambling initiation among primary school-aged boys and girls with early conduct problems. Children ages 6 -9 years were recruited from several low-SES public schools in several regions of Quebec, Canada. A strength of the study is the roughly equal proportion of boys and girls with conduct problems, as well as the presence of a matched control group of children with no conduct problems. Gambling initiation was measured between 2 - 4 years later.
Results. Regression analyses showed that the relationship between conduct problems and initiation into gambling remained even after child internalizing problems, child academic performance, child executive functioning, and parental and child substance use were controlled for.
Implications. Results confirm that both boys and girls with conduct problems are a high risk group for early initiation into gambling. Given these findings, implications for future research and prevention activities specifically for young children with early conduct problems will be discussed
