Consequences and Associated Factors of Youth Gambling
Suporn Apinuntavech MD*, Chukiat Viwatwongkasem PhD**, Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul PhD*** Wit Wichaidit MSc****, Rassamee Sangthong MD, PhD****
Affiliation : * Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand *** Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand **** Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
Objective : To examine gambling behaviors, consequences and its associated factors among Thai youths.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional survey of 1,694 students from Matthayom 1 (grade 7) to university undergraduate
level was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Questionnaire items consisted of socio-economic characteristics,
health behaviors, attitudes towards gambling and consequences of gambling. Factors associated with gambling experience
were identified by multivariate logistic regression.
Results : Approximately 20% of youth gambling was reported. Gamblers had higher proportion of males, studying in
vocational schools and lower GPA and history of smoking and alcohol consumption. Card games were the most common type
of gambling, followed by football-betting. Approximately 10% of the gamblers potentially had pathological gambling. Factors
positively associated with gambling included having friends (adjusted OR = 4.82) and relatives (adjusted OR = 2.48) who
gambled. Having a GPA > 3.0 was negatively associated with gambling (adjusted OR = 0.58). The present study reported
negative consequences of gambling including feeling of guilt, perception of poorer health and depression or insomnia after
losing.
Conclusion : Gambling prevention program should be developed and focused on student with poor study performance and
wrecked relationships in family. Also, a surveillance system for health risk behaviors among youth in school and community
should be established by the participation of multiple organizations.
Keywords : Gamble, Pathological gambling, Youth, Consequence
