Family influence on youth gambling

Kockanje je aktivnost koja datira od davne povijesti, a naširoko je prisutna i u današnjem društvu. Iako je u Hrvatskoj zakonski zabranjeno sudjelovanje osoba mlađih od 18 godina u igrama na sreću, navedeno zakonsko ograničenje ne provodi se dovoljno restriktivno u praksi, a kontrola pristupa maloljetnika kockanju posebno je otežana u online okruženju. Mladi predstavljaju posebno ranjivu skupinu za razvoj patološkog kockanja. Procjenjuje se da oko 4-8% adolescenata ima ozbiljne probleme vezane uz kockanje i klađenje. Cilj ovog rada je temeljem dosadašnjih istraživačkih i teorijskih spoznaja, pojasniti na koji način različiti aspekti obiteljskog okruženja utječu na kockanje mladih. U radu se ističe da je obitelj, uz individualne i okolišne faktore, jedna od najvažnijih komponenti pri formiranju stavova i ponašanja djece i mladih spram kockanja. Međugeneracijski prijenos kockanja može se objasniti učenjem po modelu, formiranjem stavova o kockanju kroz odgoj djece te direktnim ili indirektnim podržavanjem kockarskih aktivnosti od strane roditelja. Zaključno, ističe se važnost prevencije i pravovremene reakcije obitelji i šire okoline na pojavu problematičnog kockanja kod mladih.Gambling is an activity that dates back to ancient history and is widely present in today's society. Although the participation of persons under the age of 18 in games of chance is legally prohibited in Croatia, the existent legal restriction is not implemented restrictively enough in practice, and control of minors' access to gambling is particularly difficult in the online environment. Young people represent a particularly vulnerable group for the development of pathological gambling. It is estimated that around 4-8% of adolescents have serious problems related to gambling and betting. The goal of this paperwork is to clarify how different aspects of the family environment influence youth gambling, based on research and theoretical knowledge so far. The paper points out that the family, along with individual and environmental factors, is one of the most important components in the formation of the attitudes and behaviour of children and young people towards gambling. The intergenerational transmission of gambling can be explained by model learning, the formation of gambling attitudes through raising children, and direct or indirect support of gambling activities by parents. In conclusion, the importance of prevention and timely reaction of family and the wider environment to the emergence of problematic gambling among young people is emphasized