Press Release on Research of Hong Kong Teenagers Gambling (23 May, 2004)

To raise our concerns on how gambling affects our teenagers, we, Chinese YMCA, initiated to set "Better Life Options" as our work target in 2003. Besides, we continue to conduct our third series of research from January to February, 2004 to further understand the gambling situation of Hong Kong teenagers.

According to the results, those who participate in gambling activities during the past three months reach 32%. In addition, 7% out of the samplings of our research participate in football gambling, which exists 5.9% more than the research result in last July, 2003. The average age of first time gamblers is 11.8. It is estimated that they are generally in senior primary school period. Those who participate in first time gambling during the past three months admit that their reason of gambling is purely for entertainment (44.8%). Those who accompany their family members to gamble (41.9%) exist more than those who accompany their friends (32.6%). However, figures show that those who still accompany their family members to gamble (28.4%) have decreased 16%, whereas those who accompany their friends to gamble (38.9%) have increased 6%. This reveals that teenagers initially gamble at home, they then gradually quit their family members and then gamble with their friends.

We use "Characteristics of pathological gamblers" set questions (DSM-IV-MR-J) as our base to evaluate whether our interviewed teenagers consist of those characteristics. Conservative evaluation method is used to evaluate the results. The result reveals that 3.4% of the teenagers are "Problem gamblers" and 0.9% is "Pathological gamblers". Comparing the results of our research in last July, 2003, the percentage of "Problem gamblers" and "Pathological gamblers" is 3.5% and 0.8% respectively. Figures reveal that there is no striking increase. According to the Hong Kong population, those who fall between 12-17 years old exist 523,100, (this age group covers the whole sampling 85%), among them 17,785 teenagers entail characteristics of "Problem gambling" and 4,708 teenagers have probably become "Pathological gamblers".

To further compare the research results obtained with our last one in last July, 2003, the percentage of those who indicate that they "always" or "occasionally" show characteristics of pathological gamblers during the past three months has slightly increased. The percentage of those who show "addictive symptoms in gambling", "felt bad or fed up when trying to cut down or stop gambling" and with "cheating behaviours" have also shown an increase. The percentage of those who indicate they would "gamble at a higher rate" have increased from 0.6% to 4.5%, of those who indicate they "wish to stop gambling but feel strained" have increased from 0.8% to 3.5% and of those who "admit they have lied to their family members/friends or peers so as to conceal their gambling act" have increased from 1.4% to 4.6%. All of the above reflect the seriousness of problem gambling.

According to the research, the gender, age and those with unruly behaviours are correlated with interviewees who are "problem gamblers" or "pathological gamblers". Among them, those who are male in gender, older in age, with unruly behaviours and those who have more pocket money monthly are more prone to be "problem gamblers" or "pathological gamblers".

According to foreign research, "pathological gamblers" can be divided into three types: Impulsive, emotional and naive type. During this research, we use highly convincing and effective indicator to measure the "impulsive characteristics", "negative emotions" and "irrational money concept" of interviewees. Further analysis indicates that that those who are with adverse emotions, more impulsive and with a more irrational money concept tend to be "problem gamblers" or "pathological gamblers".

Furthermore, the research indicates that the gambling behaviours of parent and friends are correlated with the gambling problems of teenagers. 78.7% and 52% of the samplings show that the parent, friends or peers of interviewees have participated in gambling, and so the percentage of them being defined as "problem gamblers" and "pathological gamblers" is also high.

This research is conducted through a random sampling method of collecting questionnaires from 979 Form 1 to Form 5 students in 27 secondary schools. In addition, our outreach social workers have also collected 143 questionnaires from those teenagers over 12. The objectives of our research is to understand the proportion trend of pathological gambling of teenagers after the legitimatization of football gambling; to distinguish the characteristics of teenage problem or pathological gamblers; estimate the related psychological factors of teenage problem or pathological gambling; and to evaluate the correlation of parent or peers gambling with gambling behaviours of teenagers. Finally, a related discussion is held to suggest relevant preventive measures for teenagers participating in gambling.

In a nutshell, we have the following suggestions from our research:

• We urge to provide a therapy measure to those teenagers who are "pathological gamblers" to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

• Comprehensive precaution measure is needed to prevent those "problem gamblers" to develop into pathological gamblers and for other vulnerable teenagers. From the research results, we should take into consideration of the impulsive characteristics, negative emotions and irrational money concept of teenagers and encourage them to seek meaningful and challenging activities to replace gambling. Moreover, effective methods to solve problems or reduce pressure should be taught to them so as to help them to build a positive life ideal.

• The research shows the correlation of parent and friends/peers gambling with teenagers gambling. Therefore, to raise the self-awareness of teenagers or the consciousness that their peers may become pathological gamblers is the crux of our work.

• Parent should act as a role model and provide a good "free of gambling" environment to their children.

• School is the best focal entry point of the precautionary work. Therefore, they should cooperate with related organizations to provide preventive educational measures to teenagers.