Gambling among adolescents and young adults has become a significant public health problem. To examine gambling behavior in college athletes, researchers analyzed data from a 2003 National Collegiate Athletic Association risk-behavior study. The self-administered, anonymous survey was completed by 20,739 athletes (about 90% were aged 18–22).

Significantly more men than women reported gambling during the past year (62% vs. 43%). Based on a DSM-IV gambling screen, male athletes were significantly more likely than female athletes to be problem or pathologic gamblers (4.3% vs. 0.4%). In general, as gambling severity increased, so did the prevalence of substance use, disordered eating (particularly among females), and unprotected sex. Problem and pathologic gamblers also experienced significantly more drug and alcohol-related problems than nongamblers and social gamblers (participation in at least 1 of 14 gambling activities during the past year).

Comment: This study is the first national survey of gambling and risk behaviors among U.S. college athletes. Adolescents and college students are known to be at increased risk for gambling-related problems: Lifetime prevalence estimates of problem and pathologic gambling are more than twice that in adults. College students who gamble also engage in a host of other risk behaviors, including alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, and unsafe sex. The high prevalence of gambling among athletes and the link between gambling and other risk behaviors raises the question of whether school sports venues serve as pro-gambling environments — if so, that’s a far cry from conventional wisdom suggesting that athletic involvement is "just clean fun."

— M. Susan Jay, MD

Published in Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine August 22, 2007

Citation(s):

Huang J-H et al. Gambling and health risk behaviors among U.S. college student-athletes: Findings from a national study. J Adolesc Heath 2007 May; 40:390-7.

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