Associations between Risk Factors in Late Adolescence and Problem Behaviors in Young Adulthood: A Six-Year Follow-Up of Substance Related and Behavioral Addictions in Swedish High School Seniors.

Claes Andersson,Anders Håkansson

doi:10.3390/ijerph182312766

Abstract

Introduction: Risk factors of traditional substance use related problems in young adults are more well-known than for behavioral addictions such as gambling and gaming problems. The present study aims to provide knowledge about the longitudinal patters of substance use related and behavioral addictions in early adulthood. Methods: Using self-report surveys, substance-related, psychiatric, and demographic predictors were assessed in Swedish high school seniors and re-assessed six years later along with gambling and gaming problems, n = 800. Associations (Risk Ratios) between risk factors in late adolescence and problem behaviors in young adulthood were analyzed. Results: Tobacco use, illicit drug use, and hazardous drinking in young adulthood were associated with tobacco use, illicit drug use, alcohol use, conduct problems, and impaired impulse control in late adolescence. Gambling problems in young adulthood were only associated with heredity of alcohol problems, while gaming was not associated to any problem behavior in late adolescence. Conclusion: It is concluded that predictors for traditional substance-related addictions differ from predictors for behavioral addictions, and that this difference is more pronounced for gaming problems than for gambling problems.

Highlights

Recent years have seen an increased research focus on behavioral addictions, i.e., addictive disorders not involving a substance
Illicit drug use, and hazardous drinking in young adulthood show similar associations. All these outcomes were associated with tobacco use, illicit drug use, alcohol use, conduct problems, and impaired impulse control in late adolescence
After correction for multiple tests, gambling problems in young adulthood were only associated with heredity of alcohol problems, while gaming problems in young adulthood were not associated to any problem behavior in late adolescence

Summary

Introduction

Recent years have seen an increased research focus on behavioral addictions, i.e., addictive disorders not involving a substance. Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) [1] and in the diagnostic classification of the World. Gambling disorder is characterized by a pattern of gambling with symptoms such as difficulty stopping or cutting down on gambling, ‘chasing losses’ behavior of coming back to gambling to make up for recent losses, and continued gambling despite severe consequences, such as indebtedness, social problems, and mental health issues [3]. Since the most recent classification of the World Health Organization (WHO) [2], gaming disorders, representing a persistent and maladaptive behavior related to video gaming and similar gaming portals, has been introduced as a diagnosis within the section of addictive disorders.

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Discussion

Conclusion