Open AccessYoung people's reflections on the factors contributing to the normalisation of gambling in Australia
Author(s) -
Nyemcsok Christian,
Thomas Samantha L.,
Pitt Hannah,
Pettigrew Simone,
Cassidy Rebecca,
Daube Mike
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/1753-6405.13063
Subject(s) - psychology , perception , young adult , public health , psychological intervention , qualitative research , public health interventions , advertising , social psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , medicine , sociology , business , nursing , social science , neuroscience
Abstract Objectives : To explore young people's perceptions of the factors that may normalise gambling, and their opinions about the messages they see about gambling in their environments. Methods : An analysis of qualitative data from a mixed methods study of n=111 young people aged 11–16 years in Victoria, Australia. Questions investigated: i) the normalisation of gambling in sport; ii) the impact of advertising on young people; and iii) potential strategies to alert young people about the risks associated with gambling. An inductive approach was used to analyse the data. Results : Participants perceived that gambling was a regular and everyday activity and that gambling was becoming normalised in sport. However, some directly challenged this alignment. They were particularly critical that gambling advertising may influence young people's current and future gambling‐related attitudes and intentions. Most participants supported public health interventions, including more advertising restrictions. Conclusion : Young people's awareness of gambling and gambling marketing may be increasing their perceptions of the alignment between gambling and sport. Implications for public health : Strategies should be developed to increase young people's awareness of the risks associated with gambling. Young people's voices and views should be considered by policy makers in responding to this new public health issue.