Gambling activities of young Australians: Developing a model of behaviour.

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Moore, Susan and Ohtsuka, Keis (1997) Gambling activities of young Australians: Developing a model of behaviour. Journal of Gambling Studies, 13 (3). 207 -236. ISSN 1050-5350

Abstract

As more gambling venues open in Australia, youth gambling as problem behaviour has been identified. The aim of this study was to assess youth gambling in a population with easy access to gambling, and to evaluate the adequacy of a model for predicting adolescent gambling frequency and problem gambling. The model comprised a combination of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980), personality variables (venturesomeness, impulsiveness), and cognitive bias variables derived from Weinstein's (1980) propositions concerning unrealistic optimism about future life events. A sample of 1017 school- and university-based adolescents indicated relatively low frequencies of gambling and low scores on the problem gambling scale, with males scoring higher than females on both measures. The TRA was supported with about 30% of the variance of each of gambling behaviour and problem gambling accounted for by intentions, attitudes, and subjective norms. Personality factors added significantly to the prediction of gambling. The cognitive bias variables, although independently not statistically significant, further contributed to prediction.

Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/443
Official URL http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A%3A10249...
Subjects Historical > RFCD Classification > 380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences
Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > School of Social Sciences and Psychology
Keywords gambling, youth attitude; Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA); problem gambling
Citations in Scopus 104 - View on Scopus
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