J Behav Addict. 2024 Sep 13;13(3):702-715. doi: 10.1556/2006.2024.00051. Print 2024 Oct 4.
Problem gambling (PG) represents a significant public health concern with widespread effects in various cultures and regions globally, with younger individuals and males at a particularly higher risk. This disparity is attributed to a mix of cultural, developmental, and biological influences. To date, there has not been a comprehensive examination to determine whether this risk pattern holds consistently across different jurisdictions.
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using the PRISMA framework, identifying 21 eligible studies from 18 countries, encompassing 156,249 participants (47.6% male and 52.4% female).
The studies varied considerably by region (Asia: 19%, Europe: 52%, Oceania: 19%, North America: 10%), the diagnostic criteria for PG, and participation rates in gambling (ranging from 12% to 92%). Data on PG prevalence was categorised by gender and three age groups (young: 18-35, middle: 30-55, and older: 45-65). Using a random-effects meta-analysis, we found a global PG prevalence of 1.9%. Europe reported a significantly lower prevalence (1.3%) compared to North America (5.3%). Men were found to be 3.4 times more likely than women to engage in problem gambling, although the gap narrows in North America. The young demographic showed a 1.51 times higher likelihood of reporting PG compared to the middle-aged group, whereas older adults were 0.80 times less likely to report PG. Notably, age-related effects varied significantly across regions.
Our findings confirm that age and gender significantly influence PG risk across cultures, with significant heterogeneity observed across jurisdictions.
赌博问题（PG）是一个重大的公共卫生关注点，在全球不同文化和地区都有广泛的影响，年轻人和男性的风险尤其高。这种差异归因于文化、发展和生物因素的综合影响。迄今为止，尚未进行全面检查以确定这种风险模式是否在不同司法管辖区一致存在。
我们使用 PRISMA 框架进行了系统评价和荟萃分析，从 18 个国家中确定了 21 项符合条件的研究，涵盖了 156,249 名参与者（47.6%为男性，52.4%为女性）。
研究在地区（亚洲：19%，欧洲：52%，大洋洲：19%，北美：10%）、PG 的诊断标准和赌博参与率（12%至 92%）方面差异很大。PG 患病率的数据按性别和三个年龄组（年轻：18-35 岁，中年：30-55 岁，老年：45-65 岁）进行分类。使用随机效应荟萃分析，我们发现全球 PG 的患病率为 1.9%。欧洲的患病率明显较低（1.3%），而北美的患病率较高（5.3%）。男性参与赌博问题的可能性是女性的 3.4 倍，但在北美的差距缩小。年轻人群报告 PG 的可能性比中年人群高 1.51 倍，而老年人报告 PG 的可能性低 0.80 倍。值得注意的是，年龄相关的影响在不同地区差异显著。
我们的研究结果证实，年龄和性别在不同文化背景下对 PG 风险有显著影响，而且在不同司法管辖区存在显著的异质性。
