Impulsivity, risk gambling, and heavy episodic drinking among adolescents: A moderator analysis of psychological health

• Published in: Addictive behaviors reports Vol. 10; p. 100211
• Main Authors: Kaltenegger, Helena C, Låftman, Sara Brolin, Wennberg, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescents; folkhälsovetenskap; Heavy episodic drinking; Impulsivity; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Psychiatric/Mental Health; Psychological health; Public Health Sciences; Research Paper; Risk gambling; SSS; Impulsivity; SUD(s); Stockholm School Survey; HED; Risk gambling; Psychological health; substance use disorder(s); Adolescents; heavy episodic drinking; Heavy episodic drinking; SUD(s), substance use disorder(s); SSS, Stockholm School Survey; HED, heavy episodic drinking
• ISSN: 2352-8532; 2352-8532
• DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2019.100211

AbstractIntroductionAdolescence is associated with an increased inclination for risk behaviors, like gambling and heavy episodic drinking (HED). While impulsivity is a well-documented risk factor, the purpose of this study is to explore if there are variables modulating this association. The study examined the effects of impulsivity and psychological health on risk gambling and HED, and whether psychological health functions as a moderator, i.e., protective factor.MethodsData was extracted from the Stockholm School Survey, collected in 2014 and 2016 among students in the ninth grade of primary school (15–16 years) and second grade of upper secondary school (17–18 years) in Stockholm ( n = 21,886). Impulsivity, psychological problems, risk gambling, HED, and a number of sociodemographic control variables were measured using self-report data. The statistical method was binary logistic regression. ResultsResults showed that risk gambling (3.4%) and HED (22.8%) were prevalent among Swedish pupils. Impulsivity and—to a weaker extent—psychological problems as well as several sociodemographic variables were risk factors for risk gambling and HED. Furthermore, psychological problems negatively moderated the association between impulsivity and HED among girls.ConclusionsThis study supports evidence that impulsivity represents a risk factor for risk behaviors, and—contrary to the a priori hypothesis—indicates that the association between impulsivity and HED in female students might be attenuated by the presence of psychological problems. Prevention measures should particularly address adolescents exhibiting the mentioned risk factors and aim at reducing psychological problems, but not necessarily target the adolescents showing impulsivity and psychological problems simultaneously.