Introduction: Gambling disorders are a growing global public health concern. Prior studies have found strong associations between carrying a weapon and severe gambling problems in adolescents but have not examined the motivational correlates of problem gambling severities among youth stratified by weapon possession.
Methods: Survey data were collected from high school students (N=1,871, 60.3% male) who reported previous gambling. The relationship between problem gambling severity, as determined by the Massachusetts Gambling Screen, and gambling motivations were examined using logistic regression in adolescents who carried (CW+) or did not carry a weapon (CW-).
Results: CW+ adolescents with at-risk and problem gambling, compared to low-risk gambling, had greater likelihoods of gambling from social pressure, excitement, and financial gain. Adolescents with high-risk gambling, not problem gambling, had greater likelihoods of gambling to socialize (p0.05, OR=1.62). Those with problem gambling, not at-risk gambling, had greater likelihoods of gambling from tension/anxiety (p0.001, OR=30.05) and distraction (p0.001, OR=13.48).
Conclusions: Findings suggest that in contrast to their less symptomatic at-risk gambling counterparts, CW+ adolescents with problem gambling were not motivated to gamble for social interaction, but rather as self-coping, including tension/anxiety reduction and distraction. Both problem gambling and weapon possession are high-risk behaviors that can isolate the individual, and understanding these motivational correlates may inform early screening methodology and patient-centered intervention.
