Lifetime of Prevalence and Risk Factors of Problem and Pathologic Gambling in North Cyprus

Risk Factors for Gambling Disorder: A Systematic Review

Gambling disorder is a common and problematic behavioral disorder associated with depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, bankruptcy, and high suicide rates. In the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), pathological gambling was renamed "gambling disorder" and moved to the Substance-Related and Addiction Disorders chapter to acknowledge that research suggests that pathological gambling and alcohol and drug addiction are related. Therefore, this paper provides a systematic review of risk factors for gambling disorder. Systematic searches of EBSCO, PubMed, and Web of Science identified 33 records that met study inclusion criteria. A revised study acknowledges as risk factors for developing/maintaining a gambling disorder being a single young male, or married for less than 5 years, living alone, having a poor education, and struggling financially.

Gambling Behaviour: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Relation with Acculturation in 2007-2018 North Cyprus Adult Household Surveys

In this study, the prevalence of gambling behaviors among the North Cyprus (NC) in 2018 is compared with the data of 2007, 2012, 2014 and the relationship between acculturation and problem and pathological gambling (PPG) is examined. The population of the study consists of Turkish-speaking individuals between 18 and 65 years of age living in NC. 799 people were consequently selected according to gender, age and geographical region with a multi-stage stratified (randomized) quota. For the collection of the data, a demographic questionnaire, the Turkish version of the Revised South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and cultural attitude scale (CAS) were used. The prevalence data were compared with the research done by the same researchers in 2007 (n = 1012), 2012 (n = 996) and 2014 (n = 958) which were conducted by same method and questionnaire. The vast majority of participants (70.6%) participated in one or more of the 17 types of gambling activities at least once during their lifetime. Pathologic gambling doubled and rose to 4.5% in 2007-2018 periods. Being male, age range of 18-29, single, living alone and marry less than 5 years are the risk factors for PPG. Separation and integration attitude were related with PPG among Cyprus-born individuals. The study shows that gambling behavior is widespread in the NC and pathologic gambling is increasingly rapidly. High rates of gambling addiction, should be assessed in its own social structure for each community and it should be taken into consideration that acculturation is an effective factor in increasing PPG.

Depression: point-prevalence and risk factors in a North Cyprus household adult cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Depression is one of the most common diagnosed psychiatric disorders in the world. Besides individual risk factors, it is also found that environment and socio-cultural factors are the other main risk factors for depression. In this article, the results of the 2016 national household survey of depression in North Cyprus (NC) are presented. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors of depression in NC households.

METHODS

The study was conducted between April and June 2016, the sample consisting of Turkish-speaking individuals between 18 and 88 years of age living permanently in NC. A multi-stage stratified (randomized) quota was used in the survey, and 978 people were selected according to the 2011 census. A 21 item questionnaire prepared by the researchers and a Turkish version of the Beck Depression Inventory scales were used for obtaining data.

RESULTS

This cross-sectional study found a point prevalence of 23.4% for relatively high BDI scores (≥17) suggesting clinical depression. Being female, a widow, unemployed, having a limited education and low income level, having a physical illness, living alone, and using illicit substances were defined as possible risk factors for depression.

CONCLUSIONS

When we consider the world prevalence, NC has one of the higher depression prevalence. NC has environmental and socio-cultural characteristics such as a history of war, migration and colonization, high unemployment rates, socioeconomic problems, similar to other extremely high prevalence depression countries and regions, which give a strong indication of the importance of socio-cultural factors on depression.