Stephen Ellenbogen

Gender Differences among Adolescents with Gambling-Related Problems

Data from five recent studies using self-reports were merged to explore gender differences in the characteristics of adolescent problem gambling, including comorbidity with other youth problems. The sample consisted of 2,750 male and 2,563 female participants. Male problem gamblers were more likely than females to report signs of psychological difficulties while females were more likely to note behavioural problems as a consequence of their gambling problems. Males and females with severe gambling problems had remarkably similar prevalence rates of depression, substance use and weekly gambling. In the non-problem gambling group, depression was more likely to afflict females whereas substance use and frequent gambling were more prevalent among males.

A cross-cultural study of gambling behaviour among adolescents.

This study investigated whether the prevalence of weekly and problem gambling among youth varied according to cultural affiliation. A convenience sample of 1,265 Quebec high school students aged 12–18 was divided into three linguistic groupings: Anglophone (English), Francophone (French), and Allophone (other). Results revealed that the Allophone grouping contained the highest proportion of youth who gambled on a weekly basis and who reported gambling problems, followed by the Anglophone, and finally the Francophone groupings. Acculturation difficulties were associated with problem gambling. Few meaningful between-group differences were found with respect to factors related to problem gambling (i.e., comorbidity with other risk factors, coping, family functioning and resiliency). The results are discussed with respect to the influence of cultural background on gambling behavior.

Youth gambling behaviors: An examination of the role of resilience.

The study of resilient children has overturned many deficit-focused models concerning the ontogenesis of children raised in adversity. This study explored the relationship between risk and protective factors, resilience, and youth gambling behavior. More specifically, this study examined the relative contribution of various risk and protective domains in relation to problem gambling behavior and examined whether youth identified as resilient (high risk exposure-high internalized protection) were as likely as those identified as vulnerable (high risk exposure-low internalized protection) to engage in excessive gambling behavior. The sample consisted of 1,273 students ages 12 to 19. The findings demonstrated that risk and protective factors each provide a unique contribution to the prediction model of gambling problems. Resilient and vulnerable youth differed significantly in their self-reported gambling severity. As well, resilient youth were not statistically distinguishable from low-risk exposure groups in terms of their gambling severity. Findings are interpreted with respect to resilience and prevention research.

Effect of a Structured Arts Program on the Psychosocial Functioning of Youth From Low-Income Communities Findings From a Canadian Longitudinal Study

This study reports on the longitudinal examination of a structured arts program for Canadian youth, aged 9 to 15 years, from low-income communities. Evaluated were the extent to which community-based organizations successfully recruited and retained youth in the program and whether they demonstrated improvement with respect to artistic ability (combination of theatre, visual, and media arts) and psychosocial indicators. The results suggest successful recruitment and good retention rates. Multilevel growth curve analyses of observational and behavioral outcomes are presented. Observer ratings showed significant gains in artistic and social skills. Comparisons with matched controls using estimated linear propensity scores revealed a significant reduction in emotional problems for the intervention group. The overall conclusion is that youth from low-income communities benefit from structured arts programs.

Gambling Behavior Among College Student-Athletes

Analyzing data from a representative sample of 20,739 U.S. college student-athletes, this study sought to determine whether certain student-athletes were more prone to frequent or problem gambling behavior. Relative to other studies of college students, a lower percentage of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes reported gambling (males 62.4%, females 43%) and having gambling problems (males 4.3%, females 0.4%), but a high prevalence of weekly gambling was reported (males 13.0%, females 3.3%). Male student-athletes in high profile sports (e.g., baseball, football) were more likely to report a gambling-related problem compared to their counterparts in other sports (e.g., track & field, volleyball). Sports wagering remains a cause for concern. Only a very small number of student athletes reported major infractions such as attempting to alter the outcome of a game or sharing inside information. Future research should investigate why certain student-athletes are more prone to develop gambling problems.

The Relationship between Dimensions of Physical Abuse and Aggressive Behavior in a Child Protective Services Involved Sample of Adolescents

Although a relationship between harshness of childhood physical abuse and later aggression is well documented, researchers have rarely examined this association using information from the victim’s perspective. Also, no study has controlled for the possibility that victims of harsh abuse are aggressive because they often require more invasive child protection services (CPS), and thus experience greater disruptions to their home situation. A sample of maltreated adolescents completed the Childhood Experiences of Violence Questionnaire, and a year later, answered questions on aggression. Controlling for other subtypes of maltreatment, number of moves, length of CPS involvement, and household situation, we found that frequency of physical abuse and frequency of severe physical abuse were predictive of aggressiveness. These associations remained statistically significant for females but not for males. Indicators of maltreatment chronicity, age of onset, and poly-victimization were not associated with aggression.

Early Childhood Education as a Resilience Intervention for Maltreated Children.

The profound injuries caused by child maltreatment are well documented in the neurological, attachment, cognitive, and developmental literature. In this review paper, we explore the potential of early childhood education (ECE) as a community-based resilience intervention for mitigating the impacts of child abuse and neglect and supporting families in difficulty. There is clear empirical evidence that providing quality ECE to disadvantaged and vulnerable families in conjunction with other services (e.g. parenting education) is associated with positive outcomes. Challenges facing ECE centres, such as integrating children with behavioural, cognitive, and socio-emotional difficulties, are considered. Examples of successful programmes are presented.

An Exploratory Study of Physical Abuse–Related Shame, Guilt, and Blame in a Sample of Youth Receiving Child Protective Services: Links to Maltreatment, Anger, and Aggression

Maladaptive processing of self-conscious emotions (shame, absence of guilt) and externalized attributions (blame) are thought to impair social functioning and contribute to problems with anger and aggression. However, researchers generally focused on dysfunctional traits (i.e., shame-, guilt-, and blame-proneness) rather than emotions and attributions that are generated by traumatic events, such as childhood abuse. Using self-report data from a larger study of adolescents receiving child protective services, we explored correlates of physical abuse–related shame, guilt, blame toward the abuser, and blame toward others. In bivariate analyses, shame and blame were found to be interlinked and associated with different forms of abuse, emotional neglect, hostility, and pent-up anger, but not with outwardly expressed anger and physical aggression. Female gender and emotional abuse emerged as the strongest contributors in two continuation ratio ordinal regression models predicting shame; physical abuse did not contribute predictive power to one model, and severe physical abuse offered only a marginal contribution to the other. In a third model, neither shame, nor absence of guilt, nor a Shame × Guilt interaction term was found to contribute to the prediction of aggression; male gender was a marginal predictor. Child welfare planners and practitioners should consider the impact of interconnected emotions and attributions related to maltreatment, particularly emotional abuse. If left untreated, these often-invisible injuries might lead to problems later in life.