RESEARCH QUESTION
Is there a relationship between the level of emotional intelligence and problem gambling in adolescents? Do other addiction-related behaviors such as internet use and computer/video gaming have a relationship to problem gambling in adolescents?

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to provide further evidence of a relationship between problem gambling and emotional intelligence as well as a relationship with addictive behaviors such as internet and computer/video gaming among adolescents.

HYPOTHESES
None stated.

PARTICIPANTS
667 adolescents (249 males, 418 females) from Central and Eastern Ontario took part in the study. The ages of the participants ranged from 13-18 years old and were separated into two groups based on age; 13-15 years old (209 participants: 80 males, 129 females) and 16-18 years old (458 participants: 169 males, 289 females).

PROCEDURE
Participants were to complete a package consisting of the Internet Addiction Questionnaire (IADQ), Problem Video Game Playing Scale (PVGS), South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescence (SOGS-RA) and the youth version of the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i: YV). All of the participants completed the questionnaires under the supervision of their teacher or a member of the research team.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The IADQ measures the problematic internet behavior of individuals. The respondents were asked to rate themselves on their internet use. The PVGS measures the addictive use of video games and video game systems in adolescents. The score is determined by the definitions of pathological gambling and substance abuse in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV), and the higher the score, higher the level of problem gambling behavior. The SOGS-RA contains self report items that have been adjusted for adolescents which classify respondents as problem gamblers. Lastly, the participants completed the EQ-i:YV to determine their emotional intelligence using 4 subscales (intrapersonal, interpersonal, stress management, and adaptability) as well as an overall scale of emotional intelligence.

KEY RESULTS
Adolescents scored higher on most of the emotional intelligence subscales than the younger adolescents. Females scored higher on interpersonal and intrapersonal subscales while males scored higher on the adaptability scale of the EQ-i:YV;  males scored higher on the PVGS and SOGS-RA indicating a higher level of problem gambling and gambling behaviors respectively. There were no differneces in in time spent on the internet between males and females.

LIMITATIONS
One limitation of this study is that it did not distinguish between different types of gambling (bets among friends or casino gambling) or types of internet activities. The subjects were all fairly similar (young white adolescents) in the sample which means that it may not apply across the general population. Finally, each key variable only had a single measure.

CONCLUSIONS
Emotional intelligence is a moderate to strong predictor of addiction related behaviors (gambling, gaming and internet use) in both the younger and older adolescent groups. The study has shown that lower interpersonal subscale score of the EQ-i:YV in both younger and older adolescent groups has the highest correlation with addiction-related behaviors.  This point is supported by finding that those with lower interpersonal skills spend more time engaging in these addictive behaviors or that those who spend considerable time engaging in these behaviors do not develop proper interpersonal skills.