Gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in Finland—insights from a large-scale survey
IntroductionProblem gambling forms a continuum of severity from mild to moderate and severe. While most young individuals who gamble do so responsibly, for some gambling becomes a problem with severe negative consequences. Excessive gambling is strongly linked with substance use and other behavioral...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1529051/full |
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| author | Jussi Palomäki Jussi Palomäki Sari Castrén Sari Castrén Sari Castrén Niko Männikkö Niko Männikkö Tiina Latvala |
| author_facet | Jussi Palomäki Jussi Palomäki Sari Castrén Sari Castrén Sari Castrén Niko Männikkö Niko Männikkö Tiina Latvala |
| author_sort | Jussi Palomäki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionProblem gambling forms a continuum of severity from mild to moderate and severe. While most young individuals who gamble do so responsibly, for some gambling becomes a problem with severe negative consequences. Excessive gambling is strongly linked with substance use and other behavioral addictions, particularly among students.MethodsIn this study we draw from a large sample of higher education students to evaluate the links between gambling behavior, socioeconomic status, mental health, alcohol use and other potentially addictive behaviors. We analyzed our data using post-stratification survey weighted logistic regression modeling.ResultsOur main findings were that (i) students in polytechnics were more prone to gamble and experience harms than university students, (ii) self-perceived problem gambling was significantly associated with alcohol use but not with drug use or smoking, and (iii) compulsive internet use predicted gambling problems but not increased gambling activity.DiscussionOur results underscore the need for early detection of harmful behaviors among students, and early interventions for those with severe problems. Student health checks should be used to screen for harmful gambling habits and difficulties in handling finances. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1482850c97d4d9782b5b8eb6fd02765 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1482850c97d4d9782b5b8eb6fd027652025-08-20T02:10:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-03-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15290511529051Gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in Finland—insights from a large-scale surveyJussi Palomäki0Jussi Palomäki1Sari Castrén2Sari Castrén3Sari Castrén4Niko Männikkö5Niko Männikkö6Tiina Latvala7Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Digital Humanities/Cognitive Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, FinlandSocial Sciences Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology Turku, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandDepartment of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandResearch Unit of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandCentre for Research and Innovation, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Oulu, FinlandFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, FinlandIntroductionProblem gambling forms a continuum of severity from mild to moderate and severe. While most young individuals who gamble do so responsibly, for some gambling becomes a problem with severe negative consequences. Excessive gambling is strongly linked with substance use and other behavioral addictions, particularly among students.MethodsIn this study we draw from a large sample of higher education students to evaluate the links between gambling behavior, socioeconomic status, mental health, alcohol use and other potentially addictive behaviors. We analyzed our data using post-stratification survey weighted logistic regression modeling.ResultsOur main findings were that (i) students in polytechnics were more prone to gamble and experience harms than university students, (ii) self-perceived problem gambling was significantly associated with alcohol use but not with drug use or smoking, and (iii) compulsive internet use predicted gambling problems but not increased gambling activity.DiscussionOur results underscore the need for early detection of harmful behaviors among students, and early interventions for those with severe problems. Student health checks should be used to screen for harmful gambling habits and difficulties in handling finances.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1529051/fullgamblingbehavioral addictionsstudentssocioeconomicscompulsive internet use |
| spellingShingle | Jussi Palomäki Jussi Palomäki Sari Castrén Sari Castrén Sari Castrén Niko Männikkö Niko Männikkö Tiina Latvala Gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in Finland—insights from a large-scale survey Frontiers in Psychology gambling behavioral addictions students socioeconomics compulsive internet use |
| title | Gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in Finland—insights from a large-scale survey |
| title_full | Gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in Finland—insights from a large-scale survey |
| title_fullStr | Gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in Finland—insights from a large-scale survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in Finland—insights from a large-scale survey |
| title_short | Gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in Finland—insights from a large-scale survey |
| title_sort | gambling and other addictive behaviors among higher education students in finland insights from a large scale survey |
| topic | gambling behavioral addictions students socioeconomics compulsive internet use |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1529051/full |
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