The Gambling Habits of University Students in Aragon, Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yolanda López-del-Hoyo, Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé, Pablo Aisa, Adrián Pérez-Aranda, Carlos Plana, José Antonio Poblador, Jaime Casterad, Javier García-Campayo and Jesus Montero-Marin
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Yolanda López-del-Hoyo: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé: Aragon Institute for Health Research, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Pablo Aisa: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Adrián Pérez-Aranda: Aragon Institute for Health Research, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Carlos Plana: Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
José Antonio Poblador: Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Jaime Casterad: Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Javier García-Campayo: Aragon Institute for Health Research, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Jesus Montero-Marin: Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Gambling has become a routine form of entertainment for many young people. The aim of this study was to describe the gambling behavior that university students are developing in Aragon, Spain, and to analyze whether these habits are more common among students of sports science, on the assumption that they are more likely to have a higher exposure to betting company marketing. A cross-sectional design was applied, with data collected on advertising exposure, gambling habits and experiences, and opinions on the impact of gambling and its regulation from 516 undergraduate students from the University of Zaragoza. The online survey included ad hoc questions and the “Pathological Gambling Short Questionnaire” to screen for potential gambling disorders. Almost half of the sample had bet money at least once in their life (48.1%), and 2.4% screened positive for consideration of a possible diagnosis of pathological gambling. Betting shops (44.2%) were the most common gambling option, and students of sports science showed a higher prevalence of pathological gambling and had greater tendencies to make bets. Gambling is perceived as a normal leisure activity by a significant part of university students. The development of transversal strategies is required to raise awareness towards the potential dangers of gambling.

Keywords: gambling; pathological gambling; addictive behavior; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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