Assessing Gambling Behaviors of Rhode Island Young Adults

Research

“Gambling: A Ubiquitous Behavior Among Rhode Island’s Young Adults”
Rhode Island Medical Journal, April 2022

Researchers

Associate Professor Samantha R. Rosenthal, Ph.D., MPH
Associate Professor Jonathan K. Noel, Ph.D., MPH
Sharon Jacob '23
Stephanie E. Tudela '22

Project Objective

Stephanie Tudela '22 and Sharon Jacob '23 contributed to a study led by Jonathan Noel when they were undergraduate students in JWU’s Health Science program. The study worked to understand various gambling behaviors and problem gambling among young adults in Rhode Island.

Project Goals & Skills

Noel, Rosenthal, Jacob and Tudela identified twelve types of gambling behaviors and analyzed data taken from surveyed participants. They gathered data relating to age, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social status, education, employment, and essential worker status during the COVID-19 pandemic. They later published their findings in the peer-reviewed Rhode Island Medical Journal.

“My time at the URC allowed for various opportunites ... [like] creating inclusive events where every individual at the university could feel heard regardless of their background.”

Results & Future Implications

Analyzed results suggest that gambling is highly prevalent among young adults in Rhode Island. There is a higher risk of gambling among essential workers during the pandemic as well. Individuals who are transgender had significantly higher odds of gambling problems.

Findings imply that programming and greater regulation are needed to prevent and treat problem gambling among young adults and other vulnerable populations.

The Benefits of Working on Research

For Tudela, the time spent working with the Undergraduate Research Center was meaningful. "My time at the URC allowed for various opportunities such as getting published in a medical journal, presenting meaningful subjects to state agencies and creating inclusive events where every individual at the university could feel heard regardless of their background. I will always be grateful for the remarkable team and mentors that made it all possible."

_{Top inset: Stephanie Tudela graduated from JWU’s Health Science program in 2022. Bottom inset: Sharon Jacob graduated from JWU's Health Science program in 2023.}

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