2009-06-29
Gambling problems are unevenly distributed in the population; there has been a significant increase in some groups during the past ten years. A new study in Sweden shows that nearly one out of ten young men, aged 18-24 years, has gambling problems.
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The Swedish National Institute of Public Health (SNIPH) has finished the first round of data collection in the study of gambling and health. A sample of 15 000 Swedes aged 16-84 years was selected and the study will be repeated several times until 2014. The last time a similar study was conducted was in 1997-1998. Both surveys used the same measurements and it will be possible to compare results.
On a general basis the gambling problems have not changed during these past years, about two percent of the population has gambling problems. The new study shows that gambling problems are more common among individuals with a low income compared to those with a high income.
A comparison between the two studies shows that gambling problems has increased significantly among men aged 18-24 years. The prevalence has increased from five percent in 1997-1998 to nine percent 2008-2009. There has also been an increase among women, aged 45-64 years, even though the prevalence is still low. Among younger women and elderly men gambling problems has decreased.
The results also show a higher prevalence of men aged 18-24 and 25-44 with severe gambling problems. In the latter group severe gambling problems has more than doubled.
Results also show that the participation in gambling has decreased in Sweden. In the previous study 88 percent of the Swedes 16-84 years have gambled some time during the past twelve months. The corresponding estimate for the current study is 70 percent (74 for men and 67 for women).
- Results show that gambling problems contributes to inequities in health. The increase in gambling problems are not due to a higher participation in gambling, either generally nor in the groups where the increases are shown, says Marie Risbeck, project manager for gambling prevention at SNIPH.
Further analyses are to be done during summer and early autumn and a report will be presented by the end of November.
- This study is unique in the world due to the longitudinal design and the results will improve the knowledge in the field, says Marie Risbeck.
content responsible: Marie Risbeck
updated Monday, June 29, 2009
