Problem Gambling in Chinese American Adolescents: Characteristics and Risk Factors

Abstract

A total of 192 Chinese American students (aged 13-19) from 9^th to 12^th grades were recruited from three high schools in San Francisco, California. Students were administered the South Oaks Gambling Screen Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA) and a questionnaire that inquired about demographics, gambling behaviors, substance use, video game playing, and other related domains. This study found that estimated past-year prevalence rate among this adolescent group was 10.92%, much higher than the rates reported by several national studies, which ranged from 2% to 6%. The findings here provide evidence to support ethnic minority status as an important factor associated with problem gambling. Other findings also indicate that problem gambling may manifest itself differently in ethnic minority communities and needs to be better understood. Clinical and research implications of the findings are discussed.