Should I give kids money? The role of pocket money on at-risk behaviors in Italian adolescents

Background. Discussion on the impact of pocket money on positive behaviors is still\r\ndebated.\r\nObjective. To investigate the effect of diverse money allowance schemes on risky behaviors\r\n(smoking, alcohol, binge drinking, drug use, gambling) during adolescence.\r\nMethod. 989 students aged 15 from Lombardy (Italy) reported information on money\r\navailability in the 2018 wave of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. To\r\nanalyze the relationship between money availability and risky behaviors we computed\r\nodds ratios and 95% confidence intervals through unconditional multiple logistic regression\r\nmodels.\r\nResults. Spending more than 10€ weekly was associated with higher likelihood to smoke,\r\nbinge drink or gamble. Receiving pocket money (rather than receiving money upon request)\r\nwas related to higher likelihood to engage in risky behaviors.\r\nConclusions. Pocket money may have a negative impact on adolescents, particularly\r\nwith a substantial amount of money. More research is needed to understand why providing\r\nmoney only if needed may serve as a protective factor against risky behaviors.