Differences in the maximum proportion of spent income devoted to online gambling among adolescents due to conflictual relationships

Abstract

This paper analyzes a new topic in gambling among adolescents: the association between the amount of available income that is spent weekly and online gambling, and further examines the possible role of conflictual relationships as a moderator of this association. To that end, interval regression analyses are used with a nationally representative sample of Spanish adolescents (n = 38,010; M_age = 15.69; 51.4 % females). The results indicate that spent income, bullying victimization and poor-quality or conflictual relationships with the mother are positively associated with online gambling. Moreover, the last two predictors moderate the association between spent income and online gambling. The results also indicate that parents and schools have some room to maneuver. Thus, informative campaigns at school integrating parents could reduce online gambling directly and indirectly via the improvement of adolescents’ conflictual relationships. Moreover, special attention should be paid to boys, among whom most online gambling takes place.