Preventive Gambling Programs for Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé, Alberto Barceló-Soler, Javier García-Campayo, Cruz Bartolomé-Moreno, Paula Cortés-Montávez, Esther Acon, María Huertes, Víctor Lacasa, Sofía Crespo, Daniel Lloret-Irles, Luis Sordo, Catrina Clotas Bote, Susanna Puigcorbé and Yolanda López-Del-Hoyo ()
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Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé: Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Alberto Barceló-Soler: Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Javier García-Campayo: Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Cruz Bartolomé-Moreno: Primary Care Teaching Unit for Zaragoza Healthcare District 1, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Paula Cortés-Montávez: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Esther Acon: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
María Huertes: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Víctor Lacasa: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Sofía Crespo: Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Daniel Lloret-Irles: Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain
Luis Sordo: Department of Public Health and Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Catrina Clotas Bote: Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), 08023 Barcelona, Spain
Susanna Puigcorbé: Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT), 08005 Barcelona, Spain
Yolanda López-Del-Hoyo: Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-32

Abstract: Gambling disorder in youth is an emerging public health problem, with adolescents and young adults constituting a vulnerable age group for the development of gambling-related problems. Although research has been conducted on the risk factors for gambling disorder, very few rigorous studies can be found on the efficacy of preventive interventions in young people. The aim of this study was to provide best practice recommendations for the prevention of disordered gambling in adolescents and young adults. We reviewed and synthesized the results of existing RCTs and quasi-experimental studies covering nonpharmacological prevention programs for gambling disorder in young adults and adolescents. We applied the PRISMA 2020 statement and guidelines to identify 1483 studies, of which 32 were included in the systematic review. All studies targeted the educational setting, i.e., high school and university students. Most studies followed a universal prevention strategy, that particularly targeted adolescents, and an indicated prevention strategy for university students. The reviewed gambling prevention programs generally showed good results in terms of reducing the frequency and severity of gambling, and also regarding cognitive variables, such as misconceptions, fallacies, knowledge, and attitudes towards gambling. Finally, we highlight the need to develop more comprehensive prevention programs that incorporate rigorous methodological and assessment procedures before they are widely implemented and disseminated.

Keywords: prevention; gambling disorder; problem gambling; youth; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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