External Publications Using GUI Data

Technological advancement has seen a rise in computer-based and online gaming, and the online space has facilitated a proliferation in gambling options that increasingly adopt game-like features. There is a concern that gaming in childhood could predispose subsequent engagement with gambling behaviors, which has drawn the attention of parents, researchers, governments, and the European Union. To inform policy and legislation aimed at mitigating gambling-related harms, this research uses three waves of longitudinal data from Ireland to examine whether computer game engagement at 9-years-old (collected in 2007/8), and online gaming at 17 and 20, is associated with gambling participation in young adulthood. Multiple regression models, adjusting for a range of socio-economic and health characteristics, revealed that online gaming at 17 was associated with 1.4 higher odds of more frequent online gambling at 20 years (p = 0.011), while online gaming at 20 was associated with a 1.7 higher odds (p < 0.001). However, no association between early computer-based gaming at 9 years and subsequent gambling behaviors at 20 was uncovered for this cohort (born in 1998). Given more recent introductions of loot boxes and social casino games, continuous research is needed for future cohorts which may be greater affected by such developments.

Bullying can occur at all ages and has been associated with several negative impacts on the psychological and emotional well-being of victims. While the transition to adulthood may be an opportunity for victims to escape bullying, prior research has suggested some continuity of victimisation experiences into adulthood. However, research on victimisation among young adults remains scarce and no prior study has examined this issue in the Irish context. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the likelihood of victimisation at age 20 based on the respondent’s prior victimisation history and other risk factors, using data from 4693 respondents in the Growing Up in Ireland National Longitudinal Study at age 9, 13, 17 and 20. Moreover, the risk of depression and levels of global self-esteem at age 20 were examined in terms of (long-term) victimisation experiences. Respondents who were previously victimised in adolescence and respondents who were chronically victimised in childhood and adolescence were approximately 3.5 and 4 times more likely to be victimised at age 20 respectively than respondents who were never victimised. The negative outcomes of victimisation regarding the risk of depression and lower levels of self-esteem were more severe for respondents who experienced more persistent prior victimisation. In conclusion, more persistent long-term victimisation experiences are associated with more severe negative outcomes and an increased risk of continued victimisation throughout the transition to adulthood compared to less persistent or no prior victimisation. Therefore, supporting affected individuals to escape victimisation as early as possible is crucial.