Skinner Harvey, Biscope Sherry, Murray Martha, Korn David
Department of Public Health Sciences, McMurrich Building, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1 A8.
Can J Public Health. 2004 Jul-Aug;95(4):264-7. doi: 10.1007/BF03405128.
Over the past decade, there has been a rapid growth of gambling in Canada and internationally. Although youth are a potentially vulnerable group, little is known about what they understand and if they are being affected by the recent increase in gambling.
This study examined how youth view gambling using an inductive qualitative research design and analysis based on grounded theory principles. Twelve focus groups were conducted comprising 103 participants (median age = 15 years) with diverse representation of Ontario youth. Focus-group questions were designed to capture youth's experiences and opinions about gambling.
Youth participants defined a spectrum of gambling from a dare and friendly betting to legalized forms of gambling (lotteries, casinos) and addiction. Their opinions varied according to age and gambling type. For example, daring and friendly betting were identified as positive activities used by younger adolescents to relieve boredom and establish social relationships. Gambling was separate from daring because of its association with money. Many participants had minimal awareness of the potential negative impact of gambling. Information technology (Internet) was seen as an attractive medium for playing games and gambling where no money was involved.
Lack of awareness of gambling among youth and its consequences underscores the need for public education. The diverse range of gambling behaviour and age-dependent access to money need careful consideration in defining youth gambling "problems" and in designing public health interventions.
在过去十年中，加拿大以及国际上赌博活动迅速增多。尽管青少年是一个潜在的弱势群体，但对于他们对赌博的理解以及是否受到近期赌博活动增加的影响，我们知之甚少。
本研究采用基于扎根理论原则的归纳定性研究设计与分析方法，探究青少年如何看待赌博。开展了12个焦点小组，共有103名参与者（年龄中位数 = 15岁），这些参与者代表了安大略省不同类型的青少年。焦点小组问题旨在获取青少年关于赌博的经历和看法。
青少年参与者定义了一系列赌博行为，从冒险和友好打赌到合法化的赌博形式（彩票、赌场）以及成瘾。他们的观点因年龄和赌博类型而异。例如，冒险和友好打赌被视为较年轻青少年用来排解无聊和建立社交关系的积极活动。赌博因其与金钱的关联而有别于冒险行为。许多参与者对赌博的潜在负面影响认识甚少。信息技术（互联网）被视为进行不涉及金钱的游戏和赌博的有吸引力的媒介。
青少年对赌博及其后果缺乏认识，这凸显了开展公众教育的必要性。在界定青少年赌博“问题”以及设计公共卫生干预措施时，需要仔细考虑赌博行为的多样性以及不同年龄阶段获取金钱的情况。
