Gender differences in characteristics of Chinese treatment-seeking problem gamblers.
A total of 952 (841 men and 111 women) Chinese treatment-seeking problem gamblers completed self-report assessment forms. Female in contrast to male gamblers were more likely to be older, married, less educated, and without employment. Female gamblers also started gambling at an older age, had a shorter gambling history, preferred casino and mahjong gambling, and reported more somatic complaints and suicidal thoughts. Male and female gamblers accumulated similar amount of gambling debt and reported an average of 12 gambling-related problems on the Chinese version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen [Lesieur and Blume (Am J Psychiatry 144:1184-1188, 1987)]. Both groups were similarly troubled by their indebtedness, inability to control gambling, and gambling-related interpersonal problems. However, female gamblers had fewer means to pay their gambling debt. Given that significant gender-related differences were observed in Chinese problem gamblers, prevention and treatment services should attend to specific needs of male and female gamblers.
Tang
Catherine So-kum
CS
Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong. ctang@cuhk.edu.hk
Wu
Anise M S
AM
Tang
Joe Y C
JY
D000293:Adolescent; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires