‘I was Independent since I was Born’: Pre‐Immigration Traumatic Experiences and Pathological Gambling in Four Chinese Canadians

Abstract

Trauma and adverse childhood events are found in the pre-immigration histories of a cohort of four Chinese Canadian pathological gamblers. The nature of their traumatic experiences, consisting of loss and abandonment, neglect and deprivation, physical and emotional abuse, socioeconomic and political oppression, is elucidated and described. The impact of pre-immigration trauma and its relationship to the development of pathological gambling post-immigration are discussed. Upon further corroboration of the existence of pre-immigration trauma among Chinese and Asian immigrants in future studies, training of counsellors to incorporate an in-depth pre-immigration history in the assessment and treatment protocol of immigrants manifesting pathological gambling is recommended.

Cocreating Life Pathways: Problem Gambling and its Impact on Families

“…The study's findings illuminate the importance of understanding both the individual and family perspectives, a point made by numerous authors (Abbott, 1999(Abbott, , 2001Dickson-Swift et al, 2005;Grant & Won Kim, 2002;Grant Kalischuk et al, 2006). Increasing awareness about the importance of involving as many family members as possible in the delivery of family-focused treatment is recommended, an approach supported by other researchers (Dickson-Swift et al, 2005Lee et al, 2007.…”

“…Upon further corroboration of the existence of trauma among VLT problem gamblers in future studies, it is imperative that addictions counselors and health care and social service professionals be provided with educational opportunities that enable them to acquire a skill set for sensitively and effectively working with individuals who have been traumatized by various types of losses. Echoing the viewpoint of other researchers (Kausch et al, 2006;Lee, Solowoniuk, & Fong, 2007), multidisciplinary education that prepares professionals for effectively working with traumatized individuals and their families is recommended.…”

Towards a relational framework for pathological gambling (Part I): Five circuits

“…An in‐depth qualitative study of a Chinese Canadian sample revealed similar findings of pre‐existing couple fault‐lines and discord before problem gambling onset, decreasing relational resilience over time post‐migration, pathological gambling development around life transitions and setbacks, a history of childhood trauma among gamblers and the use of pathological gambling to assuage a dysphoric mood (Lee et al ., , ).…”

Gambling in the Landscape of Adversity in Youth: Reflections from Men Who Live with Poverty and Homelessness

“…Storr et al [ 27 ] and Lee et al [ 28 ] reported that youth who participated in gambling activities experienced more adverse life events such as threats of harm, violence or deviant activity. Research shows that there is an association between childhood experiences of trauma and adversity and adult problem gambling [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. A case study by Lee, Solowoniuk and Fong [ 30 ] found that both substance use and childhood adversity (including childhood maltreatment) were associated with problem gambling among male and female adults.…”

“…Research shows that there is an association between childhood experiences of trauma and adversity and adult problem gambling [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. A case study by Lee, Solowoniuk and Fong [ 30 ] found that both substance use and childhood adversity (including childhood maltreatment) were associated with problem gambling among male and female adults. More recently, Saugeres et al [ 33 ] found that childhood experiences of family dysfunction and gambling in the family contributed to adult problematic gambling.…”