The prevalence of problem gambling in New Zealand as measured by the PGSI: Adjusting prevalence estimates using meta-analysis

The 2010 Health and Lifestyles Survey and the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey were examined to assess the robustness and reliability of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). The PGSI cohered to a single factor in both data sets and had high internal reliability. These features held when separately considering men, women, Māori, Pacific and Asian people. Positive associations were evident between the PGSI and gambling behaviour, accessing gambling intervention services, arguing about gambling, the burden of debt due to gambling, and the comorbidity of smoking. A meta-analysis of the two surveys establishes a prevalence of .53%. When considering 36 overseas studies this figure is adjusted to .50%. These estimates are around 20% higher than that established by the largest New Zealand study and 25% lower than the latest study. The use of meta-analysis is recommended to obtain a timely and accurate estimate of the prevalence of problem gambling, especially when repeating a large sample survey is prohibitively expensive.

This journal article has been published in International Gambling Studies and can be accessed using this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2011.653384

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View the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey