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BACKGROUND: Marketing has a significant impact on the normalisation of gambling for youth across the globe. This has included shaping positive attitudes towards gambling, as well as increasing the social and cultural acceptance of gambling - particularly aligned with valued activities such as sport. Because of this, public health experts argue that gambling marketing poses a significant risk to the health and wellbeing of youth. While young people are increasingly exposed to, and impacted by marketing for gambling products, they are rarely consulted about policy issues and options. This study aimed to explore young Australians' perceptions of current policy responses to gambling advertising, whether they thought young people should be involved in discussions and decisions about gambling marketing regulations, and their perceptions of the duty of governments to protect young people from gambling industry marketing strategies. METHODS: Qualitative focus groups (n = 22) were held with n = 64, 12-17 year olds in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales. Participants were asked to reflect on current gambling policies, particularly relating to marketing, what they thought should be done about gambling marketing, and if and how young people should be included in public health responses to gambling. An interpretivist 'Big Q' approach to reflexive thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: Young people highlighted the need for more effective regulations around the content and frequency of gambling marketing. They also wanted to see more realistic representations of the negative impacts of gambling to counter persistent positive commercial marketing messages. Most thought that young people should be given an opportunity to have a say about responses to gambling due to their unique experiences. Participants identified mechanisms to increase young people's engagement in decision making, such as direct lines of communication to different levels of government, involvement in research, and diversifying ways of engagement. Specific recommendations included more regulatory action such as bans on gambling advertising. CONCLUSIONS: Creating formal structures that facilitate the inclusion of young people's perspectives in decisions made about gambling can result in more innovative and effective strategies to prevent the harms from gambling industry products, promotions, and practices.
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Grupos Focales , Juego de Azar , Mercadotecnía , Salud Pública , Humanos , Juego de Azar/psicología , Adolescente , Masculino , Femenino , Mercadotecnía/legislación & jurisprudencia , Mercadotecnía/métodos , Niño , Investigación Cualitativa , Nueva Gales del Sur , Victoria , Política Pública , Publicidad/legislación & jurisprudencia , Publicidad/métodos , AustraliaAsunto(s)
Menopausia , Salud Pública , Humanos , Femenino , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Salud de la MujerRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Limited data on 24-hour movement behaviors of children aged 5-8 years exist globally. We describe the prevalence and sociodemographic associations of meeting physical activity (PA), sedentary recreational screen time (ST), and sleep guidelines among children from 11 jurisdictions in the US-Affiliated Pacific region. METHODS: Cross-sectional representative data from 1192 children aged 5-8 years living in the US-Affiliated Pacific region were drawn from the baseline 2012-2014 Children's Healthy Living Program. Sleep and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA were calculated from accelerometry. ST and sociodemographic data were collected from caregiver surveys. The percentage of children meeting the Asia-Pacific 24-hour movement guidelines for PA (≥60 min/d of moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA), sleep (≥9 and ≤ 11 h/d) and ST (≤2 h/d) were calculated. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine associations with adiposity and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: Twenty-seven percent (95% confidence interval, 24.6-30.0) of children met integrated guidelines; 98% (96.2-98.0) met PA, 78% (75.4-80.0) met sleep, and 35% (32.6-38.0) met ST guidelines. Females (adjusted odds ratio = 1.40 [95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.91]) and those living in lower-middle-income jurisdictions (2.29 [1.49-3.54]) were more likely to meet ST guidelines. Overweight children (0.62 [0.40-0.96]), those aged 8 years (0.39 [0.22-0.69]), and children with caregivers of an education level of high school or beyond (0.44 [0.29-0.68]) were less likely to achieve ST guidelines. Children from midrange annual household incomes were less likely to meet combined guidelines (0.60 [0.39-0.92]). CONCLUSIONS: Three-quarters of children are not meeting integrated Asia-Pacific 24-hour movement guidelines. Future strategies for reducing ST and increasing integrated guidelines compliance are needed.
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Acelerometría , Ejercicio Físico , Tiempo de Pantalla , Sueño , Humanos , Femenino , Masculino , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Preescolar , Conducta Sedentaria , Guías como Asunto , Islas del Pacífico , Factores Socioeconómicos , Factores Sociodemográficos , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
Young people's exposure to gambling marketing has had a clear impact on their gambling attitudes, risk perceptions and consumption intentions. Celebrities and social media influencers (SMIs) are increasingly used by the gambling industry in a wide range of promotions. While there is evidence that these types of promotions are influential in shaping young people's attitudes towards other harmful products, there is limited evidence in relation to gambling. Qualitative focus groups (nâ =â 22) with nâ =â 64, 12-17 year olds were conducted in Australia. These investigated young people's exposure to celebrity and SMI marketing for gambling and the influence they perceived this marketing had on young people's gambling attitudes. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to construct four themes from the data. First, young people perceived that celebrities and SMIs created additional appeal and recall of gambling advertisements because they were attention grabbing and familiar. Second, young people thought that celebrities and SMIs increased the trust, legitimacy and social acceptance of gambling. Third, the use of celebrities and SMIs lowered the perceptions of risk associated with gambling. Lastly, there were suggestions to reduce the impact of celebrity and SMI gambling promotions on young people, such as bans and restrictions. This study highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to preventing young people's exposure to gambling marketing, that not only considers imposing stronger regulations to restrict the way the gambling industry is allowed to promote its products, but also aims to counter the novel ways the gambling industry attempts to appeal to children and young people.
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Juego de Azar , Medios de Comunicación Sociales , Deportes , Niño , Humanos , Adolescente , Publicidad , MercadotecníaRESUMEN
ISSUE ADDRESSED: There are concerns that unhealthy industries may use sponsorships to align their brands with the increased popularity of professional women's sporting events. This study aimed to identify and compare the sponsors of Australian male and female professional sporting teams in relation to unhealthy industries (alcohol, gambling, discretionary food and drink, and venues) and health-promoting companies and organisations (charities, government departments, and educational institutions). METHODS: A web-based scan was conducted from July to October 2021 to identify team and uniform sponsors, with descriptive statistics used to identify and compare results. RESULTS: About one tenth of sponsors (team n = 269; 10.9%; uniform n = 62; 10.6%) were for unhealthy industries. Men's teams had a greater number of these sponsors as compared to women's teams. Just under 10% of sponsors were for health-promoting organisations (team n = 210; 8.5%; uniform n = 44; 7.5%), with women's teams more likely to have these sponsors as compared to men's teams. CONCLUSIONS: Professional sport provides an important opportunity to facilitate health-promoting rather than -harming sponsors. Health-promoting sponsors are more prominent in women's sport, but as women's professional sport continues to grow in popularity, there is a need for policy, funding, and support to prevent engagement with unhealthy industry sponsorship and create a level playing field with men's sport. SO WHAT?: Mechanisms should be developed to help sporting codes, particularly women's sport, to adopt business models that are not reliant on industries that cause harm. Establishing strong relationships with health-promoting organisations may provide alternative sponsorship opportunities for sporting teams.
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Introduction: Rapid changes in the Australian gambling environment have amplified the risks for gamblers and pose significant threats to public health. Technological advances, saturation of marketing, and the embedding of gambling in sport have all contributed to significant changes in the gambling risk environment. Older adults have witnessed the changes to the way gambling is provided and promoted in public spaces, but little is known about how these changes have shaped the way they conceptualize the risks associated with gambling. Method: Guided by critical qualitative inquiry, semi structured interviews were conducted with 40 Australian adults aged 55 years and older, who had gambled at least once in the last 12 months. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Results: Participants discussed gambling environments in Australia and how they had changed through the proliferation of gambling products, environments, and opportunities; the risks posed through the embedding of gambling in community and media environments; the role of technology in gambling environments; and the role of marketing and promotions in the changing gambling environments. Participants recognized that these factors had contributed to gambling environments becoming increasingly risky over time. However, despite the perception of increased risk, many participants had engaged with new gambling technologies, products, and environments. Discussion: This research supports the adoption of public health responses that include consideration of the environmental, commercial, and political factors that may contribute to risky gambling environments.
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This study explored the experiences of Australian family members having conversations about driving with older adults. An exploratory cross-sectional design using an online survey was carried out with Australian family members of current or retired (former) older drivers. One hundred and fifty-six intergenerational family members across Australia completed the survey. Qualitative content analysis of free-text responses identified that the outcomes of conversations were impacted by a range of environmental and individual factors. The essence of conversations centered around two opposing (positive and negative) discourses. The findings highlighted that an individualized approach to the content of conversations is required due to; driver attributes and actions, variations in the level of support experienced by family members, differences in physical and cognitive declines with age, negative perceptions on the impact of driving retirement, and absence of acceptable alternatives to driving. We recommend using positive discourse and reappraisal techniques when initiating driving conversations with older adults.
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Conducción de Automóvil , Femenino , Humanos , Anciano , Conducción de Automóvil/psicología , Estudios Transversales , Australia , Familia , EmocionesRESUMEN
Gambling is a global public health issue that can cause harm to individuals, families, and communities. Older adults are vulnerable to gambling harm due to life-stage experiences. This study aimed to examine current research relating to individual, socio-cultural, environmental, and commercial determinants of gambling among older adults. A scoping review was conducted (PubMed, PsycInfo, SocIndex, CINAHL Complete, Web of Science, Social Science and Sociology databases available in ProQuest, Google Scholar, citation searching), with peer reviewed studies included that were published between 1 December 1999 and 28 September 2022. Included studies were published in English in peer-reviewed journals that examined the determinants of gambling in adults aged 55 and over. Records were excluded if they were experimental studies, prevalence studies or had a population wider than the required age group. Methodological quality was assessed using JBI critical appraisal tools. Data was extracted using a determinants of health framework and common themes were identified. Forty-four were included. Most literature examined individual and socio-cultural determinants including reasons for gambling, risk management strategies, and social motivations for gambling. Few studies investigated environmental or commercial determinants, and those that did focused on accessibility of venues or promotions as pathways to gambling. Further research is needed to understand the impact of gambling environments and industry, and effective public health responses for older adults.
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Juego de Azar , Humanos , Anciano , Juego de Azar/epidemiología , Juego de Azar/prevención & control , Salud Pública , Salud Global , Estudios TransversalesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Younger women's engagement with gambling has changed over recent decades due to a range of socio-cultural, environmental and commercial factors. However, younger women's distinct lived experiences with gambling have rarely been considered. The following critical qualitative inquiry explored factors that influenced younger women's engagement with gambling and their perceptions of gambling risks. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 41 Australian women aged 18-40 years. Participants were asked questions relating to their reasons for gambling, and the perceived risks associated with gambling. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. RESULTS: Five themes were constructed from the data. First, women reported that they gambled to escape their everyday lives, with some women reporting gambling within their own homes. Second, women reported gambling for financial reasons, particularly to change their life circumstances and outcomes. Third, gambling was used by women as a way to connect with social network members. Fourth, gambling was an incidental activity that was an extension of non-gambling leisure activities. Finally, lower risk perceptions of participants' own gambling risk contributed to their engagement and continuation of gambling. CONCLUSION: Public health and health promotion initiatives should recognise that young women's gambling practices are diverse, and address the full range of socio-cultural, environmental and commercial factors that may influence younger women's engagement with gambling.
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Juego de Azar , Motivación , Humanos , Femenino , Australia , Formación de Concepto , Salud Pública , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
There are a range of stereotypes and assumptions associated with women's gambling behaviours. While researchers have demonstrated that the practices associated with women's gambling are changing and becoming increasingly normalized, there is a limited understanding of how younger women ascribe meanings to these practices. This study explored the gambling practices of younger women. Forty-one women (20-40 years) participated in qualitative telephone interviews. Participants were asked open-ended questions about personal engagement in gambling, including experiences of gambling, gambling engagement, and experiences with different gambling products and environments. Data interpretation was guided by reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were constructed from the data: (i) gambling infrastructures, including both products and the embedding of gambling in community environments, contributed to the convenient and regular consumption of gambling, with gambling easy to access and engage with; (ii) social networks and intergenerational gambling practices impacted the perceived social value and competencies related to gambling; and (iii) technology facilitated new gambling practices, routinizing gambling behaviours through automation and building perceived competencies with a range of gambling products. Gambling regulation and public health responses to gambling often focus on either individual behaviours or product characteristics. This study suggests that this focus is too narrow and excludes important influences on younger women's gambling practices, which include the infrastructure that supports the provision and consumption of gambling products. Public health research, policy and practice must consider the full range of determinants that may contribute to the initiation and continuation of gambling in younger women.
Younger women's engagement with gambling is changing. While there has been a significant focus on the gambling behaviours of men, very little research has investigated how women engage in different forms of gambling. We conducted in-depth telephone interviews with n = 41 women (2040 years) in Australia about their personal engagement in gambling, their experiences of gambling, their motivations to gamble, and their engagement with different gambling products and environments. First, we found that the embedding of gambling in community environments (e.g. lotteries at shopping centres) meant that gambling was easy to access and engage with. This led to the convenient and regular consumption of some gambling products. Second, existing social practices among participants' social networks (including friends and family members) contributed to women feeling that gambling had social value, and that they had the skills to successfully participate in different forms of gambling. Finally, new technologies created routine gambling behaviours. For example, women automated the purchase of lottery tickets or used apps to help to build complex bets on activities such as sports. We conclude that public health and health promotion research, policy and practice must consider the unique factors that may influence the gambling behaviours of younger women.
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Juego de Azar , Humanos , Femenino , Australia , Ambiente , Medio Social , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Research has demonstrated that gambling is becoming increasingly normalised for women. As limited research has sought to understand women's perspectives on this issue, we sought women's opinions about the factors that may contribute to the normalisation of gambling for women, and the strategies that may counter this normalisation. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 41 women in young and middle adulthood, aged 20-40 years. RESULTS: Participants suggested that gambling was normal for women because gambling environments had been designed to appeal to women, newer technologies had removed the stigma of attending physical venues, and the growing equality and independence of women. To de-normalise gambling, women suggested addressing the influential role of marketing, designing new public education strategies, addressing the availability and accessibility of gambling, and restricting engagement with gambling products. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted women's perceptions of strategies to address the normalisation of gambling and the importance of providing risk information paired with broader policy reform and prevention initiatives to address the range of determinants that normalise gambling for women. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Involving women in advocacy and understanding their perspectives is important in developing relevant public health responses to the normalisation of gambling for women.
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Juego de Azar , Humanos , Femenino , Adulto , Juego de Azar/prevención & control , Mercadotecnía , Actitud , Salud Pública , Estigma Social , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The normalisation of gambling for young people has received considerable recent attention in the public health literature, particularly given the proliferation of gambling marketing aligned with sport. A range of studies and reports into the health and wellbeing of young people have recommended that they should be consulted and engaged in developing public health policy and prevention strategies. There are, however, very few opportunities for young people to have a say about gambling issues, with little consideration of their voices in public health recommendations related to gambling. This study aimed to address this gap by documenting young people's perceptions about strategies that could be used to counter the normalisation of gambling and prevent gambling related harm. METHODS: This study took a critical qualitative inquiry approach, which acknowledges the role of power and social injustice in health issues. Qualitative interviews, using a constructivist approach, were conducted with 54 young people (11-17 years) in Australia. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. RESULTS: Five overall strategies were constructed from the data. 1) Reducing the accessibility and availability of gambling products; 2) Changing gambling infrastructure to help reduce the risks associated with gambling engagement; 3) Untangling the relationship between gambling and sport; 4) Restrictions on advertising; and 5) Counter-framing in commercial messages about gambling. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that young people have important insights and provide recommendations for addressing factors that may contribute to the normalisation of gambling, including strategies to prevent gambling related harm. Young people hold similar views to public health experts about strategies aimed at de-normalising gambling in their local communities and have strong opinions about the need for gambling to be removed from sport.
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Juego de Azar , Deportes , Adolescente , Publicidad , Australia , Juego de Azar/prevención & control , Humanos , MercadotecníaRESUMEN
ISSUE ADDRESSED: Older adults are at an increased risk of experiencing gambling harm, which may be due to their use of high-intensity gambling products such as electronic gambling machines (EGMs). However, little research has explored the motivations behind older adults' engagement with EGMs, their understanding of the structural characteristics of EGMs, or their perceptions of risk associated with EGM gambling. This paper aims to address this gap in the literature. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted in Melbourne, Australia with n = 126 adults aged 55+, who had attended a club or pub in the last 12 months. Topics included EGM attitudes and behaviours, structural characteristics of EGMs, and the potential risks associated with EGM gambling. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. RESULTS: For most participants, EGM gambling was secondary to their participation in other activities available within venues. Participants identified structural characteristics of EGMs; however, there were some misconceptions about how EGMs operated, including how or why machines paid out. Most participants perceived that they were not at risk of gambling harm because they engaged in "responsible" gambling practices such as setting limits. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults often engaged in EGM gambling because of its availability in community-based venues. Older adults' perception that they are implementing responsible gambling practices may be increasing their susceptibility to harm. SO WHAT?: There is a need to reduce the availability and accessibility of EGMs in community settings and develop public education programs that are tailored to the needs of older adults.
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Juego de Azar , Anciano , Electrónica , Humanos , Motivación , Victoria , CaminataRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To develop a framework to guide the application of public health advocacy strategies aimed at preventing and reducing gambling-related harm. METHODS: A narrative review of theories of change and public health advocacy literature. RESULTS: An eight-step public health advocacy framework was created, which outlines the critical steps and considerations when developing and implementing successful change efforts. Implications for public health: To date, a clear public health advocacy approach to gambling harm prevention and reduction has not been well established. This study proposes a gambling-specific framework to guide future public health advocacy efforts to prevent and reduce gambling harm.
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Defensa del Consumidor , Juego de Azar/prevención & control , Reducción del Daño , Juego de Azar/psicología , Promoción de la Salud , Humanos , Maniobras Políticas , Salud PúblicaRESUMEN
In regional Australia, families (including children), attend community venues that contain gambling products, such as electronic gambling machines (EGMs), for a range of non-gambling reasons. However, there is a gap in research that seeks to understand how these venues may become embedded into family social practices. Drawing on Bourdieu's concepts of habitus and cultural capital, this paper aimed to explore factors that influence family decisions to attend venues and perceptions of risk associated with children's exposure to gambling products. Face-to-face qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 parents who attended community gambling venues with their children, in New South Wales, Australia. Families attended venues for three key reasons, first because of the influence of others in their social networks, second for regular social activities and third because of structural factors such as a lack of alternative, affordable, family friendly environments in their local area. Despite recognizing the harm associated with EGMs, parents distanced themselves from EGM harm with all parents perceiving venues to be an appropriate space for families. Research in this study indicates that family social practices within venues affect perceptions of risk associated with community gambling venues. The impact of these practices on longer-term health requires more investigation by public health and health promotion researchers and practitioners. Health promotion initiatives should consider identifying alternative sources of support and/or developing alternative social spaces for families in regional communities that do not contain gambling products.
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Juego de Azar , Australia , Niño , Humanos , Nueva Gales del Sur , Conducta Social , Medio SocialRESUMEN
Gambling is recognized as a significant public health problem. However, there is little research exploring community attitudes towards gambling and the development of advocacy initiatives. Engaging adults and young people in advocacy efforts is recognized as being beneficial to the successful implementation of harm prevention and reduction strategies. This study explored the attitudes of young people and their parents towards the alignment of gambling with sport, and the strategies they perceive could be used to prevent and reduce gambling related harm. Using a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach, 30 family groups from Melbourne, Australia participated in semi-structured interviews. Parents and young people were asked about gambling and its promotion, alignment with sporting codes, the potential impact on young people and strategies that may prevent or reduce gambling harm. Thematic analysis was undertaken to interpret the data. The sample comprised 29 parents, one grandparent and 48 young people. Themes emerging from the data related to the use of imagery and appeal strategies in advertisements, the normalization of betting in advertisements and the alignment of betting with sport. Parents and young people also identified a number of potential gambling harm prevention and reduction initiatives. Parents and young people were able to describe a range of strategies used by gambling companies to promote their products, understand the potential impact of these strategies, and recommend strategies to reduce harm. Given this level of understanding there is clearly an opportunity to engage young people and stakeholders in advocacy initiatives aimed at reducing and preventing gambling harm.
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Publicidad/tendencias , Juego de Azar/psicología , Reducción del Daño , Padres/psicología , Deportes , Adolescente , Adulto , Australia , Concienciación , Niño , Femenino , Teoría Fundamentada , Humanos , Entrevistas como Asunto , Masculino , Salud PúblicaRESUMEN
ISSUE ADDRESSED: Community-based gambling venues provide a range of activities for children alongside adult products, such as gambling. However, there has been little examination of children's experiences with, and exposure to, a range of gambling and non-gambling activities within venues. METHODS: Visual sociology methods were used to measure unprompted recall, prompted recall, current use and intended adult use of activities in community gambling venues in 44 children who attended venues. Qualitative data were also collected to gain further insight into children's perceptions of the venue and the activities within. RESULTS: Children displayed high unprompted and prompted recall of gambling and nongambling activities within the venue. Children indicated positive perceptions of the venue overall. Just over half of the children (52.3%) reported current use of gambling activities in the venue. The large majority of the children indicated that they would attend community gambling venues as an adult (90.9%). CONCLUSION: This research provides a starting point in understanding the extent to which children are exposed to gambling products in community gambling venues. SO WHAT?: This research will be important for researchers, policy makers and practitioners in developing health promotion initiatives to prevent children from being exposed to gambling products in community settings.
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Juego de Azar/psicología , Adolescente , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Nueva Gales del Sur , Investigación Cualitativa , Retención en PsicologíaRESUMEN
ISSUE ADDRESSED: Concerns have been raised about the expansion of sports betting marketing and the impact it may have on children's gambling attitudes and behaviours. This study aimed to investigate the content of Australian betting advertisements to identify if they contained specific attention strategies that have been identified by tobacco, alcohol and gambling researchers as having particular appeal to children. METHODS: An interpretative content analysis of 91 advertisements from 11 corporate bookmakers was conducted. A search of specific attention strategies that may appeal to adults, but also have been demonstrated in the public health literature as having particular appeal for children was used to develop a coding framework. This framework was then applied to analyse the advertisements. Descriptive statistics were used to generate quantitative data and qualitative illustrations were used to provide examples of the strategies found within the advertisements. RESULTS: On average there were 7.6 attention strategies found per advertisement. The most common attention strategies were music (n = 80), voiceovers (n = 79) and catchy slogans (n = 78). There were some attention strategies that related specifically to betting, such as technology, and risk-reducing promotions. CONCLUSION: This research has demonstrated that the content of betting advertisements contains attention strategies that, based on the research findings from other areas of public health, may have particular appeal for children. SO WHAT?: This research provides important evidence which could encourage researchers, regulators and policy makers to consider changes to current advertising regulations, to ensure children are protected from the potentially engaging and harmful attention strategies present in betting advertisements.
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Publicidad , Juego de Azar/psicología , Comunicación Persuasiva , Psicología Infantil , Deportes/psicología , Adolescente , Australia , Bibliometría , Niño , Salud Infantil , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Música , Mercadeo SocialRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Women's participation in, and harm from gambling, is steadily increasing. There has been very limited research to investigate how gambling behaviour, product preferences, and perceptions of gambling harm may vary across subgroups of women. METHODS: This study surveyed a convenience sample of 509 women from Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. Women were asked a range of questions about their socio-demographic characteristics and gambling behaviour. Focusing on four gambling products in Australia-casino gambling, electronic gambling machines (EGMs), horse betting, and sports betting-women were asked about their frequency of participation, their product preferences, and perceptions of product harms. The sample was segmented a priori according to age and gambling risk status, and differences between groups were identified using Chi-square tests and ANOVAs. Thematic analysis was used to interpret qualitative data. RESULTS: Almost two thirds (n = 324, 63.7%) of women had engaged with one of the four products in the previous 12 months. Compared to other age groups, younger women aged 16-34 years exhibited a higher proportion of problem gambling, gambled more frequently, and across more products. While EGMs were the product gambled on most frequently by women overall, younger women were significantly more likely to bet on sports and gamble at casinos relative to older women. Qualitative data indicated that younger women engaged with gambling products as part of a "night out", "with friends", due to their "ease of access" and perceived "chance of winning big". There were significant differences in the perceptions of the harms associated with horse and sports betting according to age and gambling risk status, with younger women and gamblers perceiving these products as less harmful. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that there are clear differences in the gambling behaviour, product preferences, and perceptions of product harms between subgroups of women. A gendered approach will enable public health researchers and policymakers to ensure that the unique factors associated with women's gambling are taken into consideration in a comprehensive public health approach to reducing and preventing gambling harm.
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Actitud Frente a la Salud , Juego de Azar/psicología , Satisfacción Personal , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Femenino , Juego de Azar/epidemiología , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Nueva Gales del Sur/epidemiología , Percepción , Factores de Riesgo , Victoria/epidemiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Harmful gambling has been identified as an important public health issue that affects individuals, families and the broader community. One gambling product, electronic gambling machines (EGMs), has been associated with significant gambling harm in Australia. There has been limited research that has explored community perceptions of EGMs and attitudes towards reform. This study, conducted in NSW, Australia, aimed to explore community use of EGM venues (clubs and hotels containing EGMs), attitudes towards EGMs and whether the use of these venues influenced attitudes towards EGM reform. METHODS: An online survey was conducted with 500 adults aged 16 years and over, representative of the population for age and gender. Discrete choice and open-ended questions were used to gather data on gambling behaviours, use of and attitudes towards EGMs and EGM venues and support for gambling harm reduction measures. RESULTS: Three quarters of participants had visited an EGM venue in the previous year. Participants who had attended such venues were significantly more likely to use EGMs at least once per month. Participants attended EGM venues for a range of reasons including use of non-gambling facilities such as restaurants, the social aspects of the venue and ease of access to the venue. Some participants also attended EGM venues specifically for the gambling facilities. Most participants identified some negative impacts of EGMs for local communities and were supportive of measures to reduce the number of EGMs and prevent children's exposure to EGMs in such venues. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a high level of support for EGM reform amongst both individuals who attend EGM venues and also those who do not. There is potential for government to further regulate EGMs and the environments where they are located.