The General Relationship Between Universal Human Values and Adolescents’ Problem/Pathological Gambling in Macao: A Parsimonious, Quantitative Model

Abstract

This study modeled the general relationship between individual Macao adolescents’ universal human values, measured by the Schwartz Values Inventory, and their problem/pathological gambling, indicated by the South Oaks Gambling Screen, using parsimonious, quantitative structural equation modeling. Data were collected through 471 questionnaires (261 females and 210 males) in 2010. Of the 10 value types in the Schwartz Values Inventory and derived value subtypes, only the human value subtype “nonfaith tradition” was found to be (negatively) related to problem/pathological gambling in the model. The corresponding factor loading was −0.07 (p = .015). This study was supported by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Government of Macao.

Keywords :

• universal human values
• Schwartz Value Inventory
• problem/pathological gambling
• South Oaks Gambling Screen
• Macao adolescents
• structural equation modeling

THE AUTHORS

Victor K. Y. Chan, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the School of Business of Macao Polytechnic Institute in the Macao Special Administrative Region of China. He has almost 9 years of teaching and research experience in various areas, two of his research foci being cyber-gambling behavior and gambling behavior in general. Dr. Chan has undertaken research projects funded by the Science and Technology Development Fund and the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of Macao. He has also received various honors and awards including the Degree Program Distinguished Teacher Award, the Teaching Excellence Award, and the Best Teacher Award.

Notes

1 This current study is in furtherance of and share data with Chan (2012).