The relative influence of promotion, peer and family influences on youth gambling in Nova Scotia

Abstract

This exploratory research investigated the relative influence on youth gambling behaviour attributed to family and peer influencers and gambling promotion. Analyzing data collected from Nova Scotia public school students in grades 7 through 9, researchers determined that when subjected to a stepwise regression analysis, peers provide statistically significant influence on youth gambling activity, rendering the student’s exposure to gambling promotion and family influence insignificant as factors in gambling behaviour. Future research is recommended to further examine these relationships using larger samples of boys and girls.