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ABSTRACT
The aim was to examine the association of socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics with gambling severity level. The study was a part of the National Survey on Lifestyles in Serbia: Substance Abuse and Gambling, in 2014. The sample consisted of 5385 individuals. Based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score participants were divided into non-problem gambling, low-/moderate-risk gambling and problem gambling. Prevalence of problem gambling was 0.5%, which was associated with having poor self-perceived financial status, having moderate or high risk for psychological distress, playing sports betting, casino games and slot machines. Low/moderate gambling was associated with having poor self-perceived financial status, number of drinking days per year, using any illicit drugs in the last 30 days, playing sports betting, slot machines, and online betting. Programmes of early detection of problem gambling should be developed, and regulation of availability of slot machines and sports betting.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Mr Mladen Drajic for revising the language.
Conflicts of interestFunding sources
This work is supported by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Grant No. 41004, Contract No. 175042 [2011–2014], Grant No. 175087 and Grant No. 175046).
Competing interests
The authors declared no competing interests.
Constraints on publishing
The authors declared no constraints on publishing.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Zorica Terzic-Supic
Zorica Terzic-Supic graduated at the Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, where she defended her MSc thesis and later PhD. She is a specialist in ocial medicine. She orks as a professor of social medicine in the Medical Faculty and Center School of Public Health and Health Management, University of Belgrade. She is engaged in the education of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of public health and health management.
Marina Jelic
Marina Jelic graduated from the Faculty of Management, University of Megatrend, Belgrade. She currently works as a manager at the screening office at the Republic Institute of Public Health, ‘Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut’.
Milena Santric-Milicevic
Milena Santric-Milicevic is professor of social medicine at the Medical Faculty and Center School of Public Health at the University of Belgrade at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She Graduated from the Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, where she latter defended her MSc thesis and PhD. She is a s Specialist in social medicine.
Biljana Kilibarda
Biljana Kilibarda graduated from the Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, where she later defended her MSc thesis. She Works at the Republic Public Health Institute of Serbia ‘Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut’.
Momcilo Mirkovic
Momcilo Mirkovic graduated from the Medical Faculty, University of Pristina. Defended MSc thesis at Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, and PhD thesis at the University of Pristina. She is a specialist in social medicine. He is Professor of social medicine at the Medical Faculty, University of Pristina-Kosovska Mitrovica.
Dusica Bankovic-Lazarevic
Dusica Bankovic-Lazarevic works at the Screening Office at the Institute of Public Health of Serbia, ‘Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut’. She also works as assistant professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, in Pancevo, Serbia.
Jovana Todorovic
Jovana Todorovic graduated from the Medical Faculty, Univeristy of Belgrade. She Defended her masters degree in physical activity, health and exercise therapy in 2016. PhD student. She is engaged in the education of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of public health and health management.