Gambling behaviours and associated familial influences among 9-year old Pacific children in New Zealand

Abstract

There is a paucity of research investigating child gambling, particularly studies that do not use retrospective designs. The presented findings provide cross-sectional data of the gambling behaviours of 874 9-year old Pacific children from a birth cohort study (recruited from one hospital) investigating health, developmental and social outcomes for Pacific children and their families in New Zealand. Structured interviews were administered to participants (mothers and children), face to face, in their homes (mothers) or school (children). Child gambling behaviours and associations with some maternal behaviours were investigated; five gambling participation questions were included in the child interview. Almost all child respondents (96%) reported having played card games with family or friends and 60% reported participation in housie (bingo), although only 27% reported having bet with money. Associations were noted between child gambling and household deprivation, and effectiveness of parental monitoring. There was no association between children's gambling and mothers' gambling. This is the first research to examine gambling in Pacific children at 9 years of age within a familial context. It will allow exploration of links between parental gambling and child development of gambling behaviours, as well as risk and protective factors for problem gambling at future data collection phases of the study.

Keywords:

• Pacific Island
• children
• gambling
• New Zealand
• cross-sectional study

Notes

^1. Thus, significance is not the criterion on which variables are included or excluded. A variable can be retained in the model yet show a non-significant result because it contributes to the overall model fit.

Additional information

Funding

Core funding for the Pacific Islands Families study has variously been provided over the years by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and the Health Research Council. The New Zealand Ministry of Health provided additional funding for gambling-related aspects to be included and analysed [Agreement 467,589/327,774/00].

Notes on contributors

Maria Bellringer

Maria Bellringer is a senior research fellow and associate director of the Gambling and Addictions Research Centre at Auckland University of Technology.

Steve Taylor

Steve Taylor is a senior research officer and bio-statistician for the Pacific Islands Families study and the School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies at Auckland University of Technology.

Fa'asisila Savila

Fa'asisila Savila is a research officer for the Pacific Islands Families study and is a PhD candidate researching environmental health for Pacific children at the Centre for Pacific Health and Development Research at Auckland University of Technology.

Max Abbott

Max Abbott is pro vice-chancellor, dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, co-director of the National Institute for Public Health and Mental Health Research, director of the Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, and director of the Centre for Migrant and Refugee Research at Auckland University of Technology.