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

Abstract

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 65years 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 5years 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.