Journal of Gambling Studies
Volume 35, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 155-170

Gambling behaviour, problem gambling and reasons for gambling among international students in Tasmania, Australia (Article)

Mond J.* , Skromanis S. , Purton T. , Cooling N. , Fan F. , Harris K. , Bridgman H. , Presser J. , Rodgers B.
  • a Centre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1322, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, Australia
  • b Centre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1322, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia
  • c Centre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1322, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia
  • d School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
  • e School of Education, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
  • f School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, Australia, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
  • g Centre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1322, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia
  • h School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
  • i School of Demography, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Abstract

Individuals who undertake tertiary study outside their home countries (“international stu-dents”) may be at increased risk of problem gambling behaviour. To inform this issue, we examined gambling behaviour, problem gambling behaviour and reasons for gambling among international students, primarily from Asian countries, attending university in Tasmania, Australia. Online surveys that included established measures of each outcome were completed by these students (n = 382) along with a comparison group of domestic students (n = 1013). While most forms of gambling assessed were less common among international students than among domestic students, rates of problem gambling were higher among international students (2.6%) than among domestic (1.4%) students. Further, whereas rates of problem gambling did not differ by sex among domestic students, problem gambling among international students was confined to males. Hence, rates of problem gambling were markedly elevated in this subgroup (5% of all male international students, 15% of male international students who reported any form of gambling in the past 12 months). International students were more likely than domestic students to report engaging in gambling as a means of regulating their internal states and for a challenge and these and other reasons for gambling were positively correlated with problem gambling behaviour. The findings support the need for population-and campus-based health promotion and early intervention programs targeting international students, male students in particular. Information concerning individuals’ reasons for gambling might usefully be included in these programs. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019.

Author Keywords

Australia International students Gambling problem gambling university students Reasons for gambling College students

Index Keywords

Tasmania human middle aged Internationality Aged international cooperation Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult student Humans psychology Adolescent problem behavior male gambling female Universities university questionnaire adult addiction Students Behavior, Addictive
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85065058070&doi=10.1007%2fs10899-018-09819-8&partnerID=40&md5=d8ff2befa6926c17fa8bccaec2d35bf1
DOI: 10.1007/s10899-018-09819-8
ISSN: 10505350
Original Language: English