Previous studies have established a positive relationship between
gambling and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Limited studies have investigated the role of
gambling in completed suicide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of
gambling behavior among suicides and to compare the correlates of nongambling and
gambling with and without related debt suicides.
METHOD: The death records from the coroner's court files of suicides (N = 1,201) in Hong Kong in 2003 were reviewed. Logistic regression models were used to investigate relevant correlates in suicides with
gambling behavior and debt due to
gambling compared to suicides with
gambling behavior but no debt and nongamblers.
RESULTS: Of the suicide victims, 233 (19.4%) showed evidence of
gambling behavior prior to death; 110 of the 233
gambling suicides (47.2%) involved individuals who were indebted due to
gambling. In comparison with the other 2 groups, the
gambling with debt suicide victims were more likely to be male, aged 30-49 years old, married, and employed and to have died by
charcoal burning (
carbon monoxide poisoning). These individuals also had fewer recorded medical and psychiatric problems in the past year and lifetime. When comparing suicides with
gambling behavior with and without
gambling-related debt, the indebted victims were more likely to also have had debt problems not attributed to
gambling (OR = 149.66, P < .001) and to have been disturbed by loan sharks prior to death (OR = 28.14, P < .001) but were less likely to have recorded
psychiatric disorders during their lifetime (OR = 0.41, P < .05) and at the time of death (OR = 0.26, P < .05).
CONCLUSIONS: