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

Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS Aragón), Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion Research Network (RICAPPS), 50015 Zaragoza, Spain Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Healthcare Research Institute of Navarre (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Miguel Servet, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Primary Care Teaching Unit for Zaragoza Healthcare District 1, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain Department of Public Health and Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), 08023 Barcelona, Spain Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT), 08005 Barcelona, Spain
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.
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón: Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet
Red de Investigación en Cronicidad, Atención Primaria y Prevención y Promoción de la Salud
Departmento de Psicología y Sociología (Universidad de Zaragoza)
Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra
Hospital Miguel Servet: Departamento de Psiquiatría
Unidad de Atención Primaria del Sector Sanitario de Zaragoza, Distrito 1
Universidad Miguel Hernández: Departamento de Psicología de la Salud
Universidad Complutense de Madrid: Departamento de Salud Pública y Materno-Infantil
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Epidemiología y Salud Pública
Agencia de Salud Pública de Barcelona
Agencia de Salud Pública de Catalunya
Depto. de Salud Pública y Materno - Infantil
Fac. de Medicina
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