Syddansk Universitet
Gambling behavior and problem gambling reflecting social transition and traumatic
childhood events among Greenland Inuit
Larsen, Christina Viskum Lytken; Curtis, Tine; Bjerregaard, Peter
Publication date:
2012
Document version
Early version, also known as pre-print
Citation for pulished version (APA):
Larsen, C. V. L., Curtis, T., & Bjerregaard, P. (2012). Gambling behavior and problem gambling reflecting social
transition and traumatic childhood events among Greenland Inuit: A cross-sectional population study. Poster
session presented at 15th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Fairbanks, United States.
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Download date: 31. Jul. 2017
Gambling behavior and problem gambling reflecting social transition and traumatic
childhood events among Greenland Inuit – a cross-sectional population study
Larsen, Christina VL1,Curtis T 2 and Bjerregaard P 1
1Centre for Health Research in Greenland, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Contact: cll@niph.dk.
INTRODUCTION
•  An increase in social pathologies is a key feature in indigenous
populations undergoing transition. The Greenland Inuit are a large
indigenous population constituting a majority in their own country, which
makes it possible to investigate differences within the population.
•  This led us to study gambling behavior and problem gambling among
Greenland Inuit in relation to the ongoing social transition and traumatic
events during childhood.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze (a) the prevalence of gambling behavior and problem gambling
and (b) its association with social transition and traumatic events during
childhood.
CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES
•  A high prevalence of lifetime problem gambling among Greenland Inuit adds problem gambling to the list of social pathologies in Greenland.
•  A preference for the lottery and slot machines in the capital of Nuuk and for bingo and cards/dice in towns and villages indicated a mix of
patterns between modern games popular in contemporary Scandinavia and games found to be traditionally popular among Inuit in Nunavik
and First Nations.
•  A significant association between lifetime problem gambling, social transition and traumatic childhood events suggests people caught
between tradition and modern ways of life are more vulnerable to gambling problems. People in towns in Greenland might generally be
considered to have the most difficult position in the on going social transition because they are in between the more traditional life in the
villages and the modern life in the capital.
Table 1. Lifetime problem gambling according to social transition and traumatic events during childhood.
Adjusted analyses. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (C.I.) Greenland Inuit 2006-2010 (n=2189).
Social transition
Place of residence
Capital of Nuuk
Town
Villages
METHODS
•  A large representative cross-sectional study among Greenland Inuit
(n=2189).
•  Data was collected among adults (18+) in 9 towns and 13 villages in
Greenland from 2005-2010.
•  Problem gambling, gambling behavior and traumatic childhood events
were measured through a self-administered questionnaire.
•  The lie/bet screen was used to identify past year and lifetime problem
gambling.
•  Social transition was measured as place of residence and a
combination of residence, education and occupation (level of social
transition.
RESULTS
•  The lifetime prevalence of problem gambling was 16% among men
and 10% among women (p<0.0001).
•  The lifetime prevalence found in in towns (19%) was higher compared
to both the capital of Nuuk (11%) and in villages (12%) (men only,
p=0.020).
•  Lifetime problem gambling was associated with social transition
(p=0.023), alcohol problems in childhood home (p=0.001/p=0.002) and
sexual abuse in childhood (women only, p=0.030).
•  Gambling behavior was associated with social transition measured as
place of residence. Bingo was more common and played more
frequently in villages and towns compared to the capital. People in
villages gambled more frequently on cards/dice compared to the
capital and in towns while the lottery and slot machines were much
more common in the capital and in towns.
2
Local Government Denmark, Denmark
Involvement in social transition (25-64 years)
Hunters/fishermen in villages
Other villagers
Blue collar migrants in towns
Other blue collar in towns
Intermediate in towns
Professionals in towns
Traumatic events during childhood
Sexual abuse during childhood
No
Yes
Alcohol problems in childhood home
Never
Occasionally
Often
Men
OR [95% C.I.]
p-value
(ref.)
1.86 [1.01-3.44]
1.05 [0.52-2.10]
0.021
0.047
0.891
Women
Total
OR [95% C.I.] p-value OR [95% C.I.] p-value
(ref.)
1.31 [0.71-2.42]
1.23 [0.62-2.49]
0.695
0.396
0.532
(ref.)
1.88 [0.83-4.25]
1.60 [0.62-4.10]
2.56 [1.16-5.64]
2.22 [1.02-4.85]
0.81 [0.29-2.23]
(ref.)
1.53 [0.80-2.90]
(ref.)
1.27 [0.70-2.31]
3.12 [1.65-6.20]
0.196
(ref.)
2.02 [1.07-3.81]
0.030
0.001
0.432
0.001
(ref.)
1.42 [0.66-3.08]
3.64 [1.68-7.91]
0.002
0.374
0.001
0.023
0.132
0.329
0.020
0.046
0.679
Figure 1. Prevalence of alcohol problems in
childhood home, lifetime problem gambling
and sexual abuse in childhood according to
birth cohort. Unadjusted percent. Greenland
Inuit. 2006-2010 (n=2189).
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-1954
1955-1959
1960-1964
1965-1969
1970-1974
1975-1979
1980-1985
Often experienced alcohol problems in childhood home
Lifetime problem gambling
Sexually abused as a child
1985-