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Engagement in addictive behaviors such as social casino gaming (SCG), gambling, and alcohol and drug use has a significant negative impact on physical and mental health and classroom attendance, leading to an academic failure. This study aimed to (a) determine the prevalence of SCG, gambling, alcohol use, and drug use in a sample of 390 college students; (b) examine the relationship among SCG, gambling problems, alcohol and drug use, and class attendance problem using Pearson correlations and point-biserial correlations; and (c) evaluate the extent to which alcohol and drug use can explain the relationship between gambling problems and class attendance problem using parallel mediation analysis. SCG was found to be related to gambling problem and drug use problem. Gambling was found to be a predictor of alcohol and drug use problems. However, interestingly, SCG and gambling problems were not directly related to class attendance problem. The parallel mediation analysis confirmed students at risk for gambling problems were more likely to have alcohol use problems, and alcohol use problems led to poor class attendance. Rehabilitation services providers who work with college students should be mindful of the relationship among the addictive behaviors and class attendance problem and tailor rehabilitation services interventions.

Gamblers are a heterogenous group in terms of the presence of comorbid psychopathology, maladaptive personality traits, and motivation to gamble. The Pathways Model, the most promising comprehensive framework to explain this heterogeneity, classifies gamblers into three subtypes. The aim of this review was to determine whether or not subtyping of gamblers based on the Pathways Model of problem and disordered gambling is valid. A literature review was conducted using the following online databases: Academic Search Complete, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsychINFO. Studies were selected or excluded based on meeting predetermined criteria. Fourteen studies examining subtyping of gamblers based on the Pathways Model were reviewed and evaluated. Results suggest that in the adult population there are three subtypes of gamblers that largely coincide with the subtypes defined in the Pathways Model. Of these, the emotionally vulnerable subtype is the most problematic and inconsistent. In contrast, for adolescents, at least four gambler subtypes have been identified. The extant literature on subtyping of gamblers suffers from some severe limitations. Further research is required to fully validate the Pathways Model.