Problem Gambling, Gambling Correlates, and Help-Seeking Attitudes in a Chinese Sample: An Empirical Evaluation

Abstract

There is an increasing consensus that problem gambling (PG) is a serious social issue among the Chinese, but little is known of the factors associated with PG among the Chinese using validated and improved PG measure- ments. This study examined the patterns of PG and the PG predictive ability of variables such as gam- bling-related cognitions, gambling urge, depression, anxiety, stress, and help-seeking attitudes among Chinese individuals living in Taiwan. The participants consisted of 801 Taiwanese Chinese student and community indi- viduals (Mean age = 25.36 years). The prevalence of PG (Problem Gambling Severity Index; PGSI) and patho- logical gambling (South Oaks Gambling Screen; SOGS) are higher in this Taiwanese Chinese sample as com- pared with past prevalence research. Significant differences were found between PGSI groups (i.e., non-PG, low-risk, moderate-risk, and PG) in socio-demographic variables. Erroneous gambling-related cognitions and overall negative psychological states significantly predicted PG. In addition, interaction effects of gender, me- diation effects, and the predictive ability of help-seeking attitudes were discussed. The findings of this study have important implications in the understanding of PG among the Chinese. Gambling-related cognitions and negative psychological states are important factors that should be addressed in intervention programs. Keywords: Chinese, Gambling, Problem Gambling, Help-Seeking, Cognitions, Psychological States Introduction The earliest documented accounts of gambling were recorded in China where “keno” was first played 3000 years ago to fund the building of the Great Wall (National Policy Toward Gam- bling, 1974). Gambling was very popular in ancient China and throughout Chinese history despite the fact that it was under strict legislative controls and banned in some regions. Despite being illegal in mainland China (except in Macau where casino gambling is legalized) and Taiwan (except outlying Penghu islands), gambling remains popular among the Chinese around the world (i.e., Chinese Diaspora) due to the fact that it is an acceptable form of social activity in the community (Hobson, 1995; Lai, 2006; Raylu & Oei, 2004b). In fact, social gambling is expressed as a form of entertainment, often occurring during festive seasons (e.g., Chinese New Year), birthday gatherings, or wedding celebrations. This activity usually happens with friends, family, or colleagues, and the gambling episode lasts for a limited period of time without loss of control (Clarke, Tse et al., 2006). Nevertheless, social gambling can escalate to se- rious social gambling, problem gambling, and pathological gambling. To date, most researchers have concurred that the term prob- lem gambling (PG) refers to gambling behaviour that is severe enough to create negative outcomes for the problem gambler, immediate family, and social networks (Brooker, Clara, & Cox, 2009; Raylu & Oei, 2002). Similarly, in this study, problem gambling will be used in a broader sense to define the situation where an individual is experiencing gambling problems that causes disruption to the individual’s functioning that may ex- tend to affect family members and social networks (Lesieur & Blume, 1987). The term pathological ga