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Colby MH, Hires B, Le L, Sauma D, Yau MY, Chu MT, Rubin HL. Unpacking the root causes of gambling in the Asian community: Contesting the myth of the Asian gambling culture. Front Public Health 2022; 10:956956. [PMID: 36408001 PMCID: PMC9670317 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.956956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Problem gambling is a public health issue both in the United States and internationally and can lead to mental health and socioeconomic concerns for individuals, families, and communities. Large epidemiological studies on problem gambling have neglected to include working-class, immigrant Asian Americans, who are at higher risk for problem gambling. The lack of data on Asian American gambling may explain a subsequent lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate treatment and prevention services. Additionally, the invisibility of Asian American data in published literature has helped to perpetuate a commonly held myth of an Asian gambling culture. This stereotype of the "Asian gambler" is a form of anti-Asian racism which serves to ignore and minimize the root causes of problem gambling in the Asian American community. Methods Utilizing a community-based participatory research approach, 40 interviews were conducted with the local Khmer (n = 12), Chinese (n = 20), Korean (n = 3), and Vietnamese (n = 5) immigrant communities in the Greater Boston region to assess how problem gambling manifests in the local Asian community. Interviews were conducted in language by bilingual/bicultural community fieldworkers experienced in serving their respective communities. Flyers and social media were used to recruit participants. The interviews were coded into themes which provided a better understanding of the patterns of systemic issues contributing to problem gambling in the Asian American community. Results Interviewees provided insights into the underlying issues of poverty and social and cultural loss due to immigration as root causes for problem gambling in the Asian American community. The interviews indicate that many individuals in these Asian immigrant communities, who are striving to make a living off low-wage and stressful jobs, struggle to integrate into American society. They often lack culturally appropriate and accessible social and recreational activities, a void that casinos capitalize on through targeted behaviors. Discussion Research must address the social and structural barriers in the Asian American communities rather than relying on the "Asian gambler" stereotype and assuming interventions for a general American problem gambler will work for Asian immigrants. The research points to a need for gambling interventions and services that are centered on lived experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Han Colby
- Asian Center for Addressing Research, Education, and Services (CARES), Boston, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Mia Han Colby
| | - Ben Hires
- Asian Center for Addressing Research, Education, and Services (CARES), Boston, MA, United States,ADAPT Coalition, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States,Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lisette Le
- Asian Center for Addressing Research, Education, and Services (CARES), Boston, MA, United States,ADAPT Coalition, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States,Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (VietAID), Dorchester, MA, United States
| | - Dawn Sauma
- Asian Center for Addressing Research, Education, and Services (CARES), Boston, MA, United States,ADAPT Coalition, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States,Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK), Boston, MA, United States
| | - Man Yoyo Yau
- Asian Center for Addressing Research, Education, and Services (CARES), Boston, MA, United States,ADAPT Coalition, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States,Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), Boston, MA, United States
| | - MyDzung Thi Chu
- ADAPT Coalition, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States,Tufts Medical Center, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Heang Leung Rubin
- Asian Center for Addressing Research, Education, and Services (CARES), Boston, MA, United States
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Li MH, Lai IKW. Actual Self-Image Versus Ideal Self-Image: An Exploratory Study of Self-Congruity Effects on Gambling Tourism. Front Psychol 2021; 12:588190. [PMID: 34305694 PMCID: PMC8298025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.588190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to apply self-congruity theory to examine the relationship between self-congruity of tourists and their perceived image of a gambling destination. This study employs the Euclidean distance model and extends Malhotra's pars of adjectives with five new items about gambling motives. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was used, and a total of 152 samples were collected from tourists in Macau. The results show that the actual self-image of tourists is more related to their perception of Macau image. For actual congruence, tourists exhibit a greater tendency to match the informal, liberal, and emotional image of Macau. For ideal congruence, they have a tendency to match the contemporary, organized, and pleasant image of Macau. This study makes up for the deficiency of self-congruity theory in tourism research. This study helps tourism departments to develop appropriate strategies to promote gambling tourism and disseminate relevant information that can bring gambling destinations closer to tourists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao-Hua Li
- Department of Economics and Management, Zhanjiang Preschool Education College, Zhanjiang, China.,Faculty of International Tourism and Management, City University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Ivan Ka Wai Lai
- Faculty of International Tourism and Management, City University of Macau, Macau, China
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Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Shahwan S, Vaingankar JA, Picco L, Browning CJ, Thomas SA, Chong SA. Culture and age influences upon gambling and problem gambling. Addict Behav Rep 2015. [PMID: 29531980 PMCID: PMC5845977 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to (i) examine the prevalence and types of gambling, (ii) establish prevalence of ‘pathological’ gambling, (iii) explore the correlates of gambling, and (iv) establish psychiatric and physical comorbidity in a sample of older adult gamblers (≥ 60 years) in contrast to younger gamblers in a representative population sample in Singapore. Method This paper reports the results of a secondary analysis of data from a representative community survey of 6616 participants, of which 2252 had engaged in gambling activities at least once in their lifetime. Results 48.9% of older adults reported lifetime gambling. Older gamblers were more likely to be males, married or widowed (vs. never married), with pre-primary, primary and secondary education (vs. university), economically inactive (vs. employed) and had personal annual income of SGD $19,999 and below (vs. SGD $50,000 and above). Older gamblers had significantly higher rates of betting on horses, playing numbers or betting on lotteries, and playing Mahjong. After adjusting for demographic variables in multiple logistic regression analyses, gamblers aged 60 years and older had significantly lower odds of having pathological gambling than those in the younger age group (OR = 0.4). Older gamblers had significantly higher odds of having diabetes (OR = 3.2), hypertension (OR = 4.9), and any comorbid chronic physical condition assessed in this study. Conclusions For the majority of older adults, gambling remains a recreational activity that is entertaining and a way of socialization. However, one must remain cognizant of the possible risks for some to develop disordered gambling. 48.9% of older adults in Singapore reported lifetime gambling. Older gamblers were more likely to be males, married or widowed, and had lower education. Older gamblers had significantly lower odds of having pathological gambling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mythily Subramaniam
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.,Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Louisa Picco
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | - Colette Joy Browning
- School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Australia.,Research Institute, RDNS, Australia
| | - Shane Andrew Thomas
- School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Australia.,Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) University of Adelaide, Australia
| | - Siow Ann Chong
- Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
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