Macau

Date:

  • 13 December 2005

Location:

  • Macau Ricci Institue

Time:

  • 18:00 to 21:30

Cost:

  • Free

Languages:

  • English

Speaker

Dr Gertina van Schalkwyk

Dr Gertina van Schalkwyk is a psychologist and researcher on various issues related to human development and narrative meaning making across the lifespan. Her research includes identity construction and reconstruction of women and adolescents, emotional abuse of women, death and bereavement, family studies, and community mental health and psychological well-being. She comes from South Africa and is now Assistant Professor at the University of Macau in the psychology program.

Emilie Tran

Emilie Tran is a researcher on contemporary China political and social issues. She is completing her Ph.D at the Graduate School of Social Sciences in Paris. Her dissertation is about the transformation of elite and power in post-Mao China.

Dr. Kay Chang

Dr. Kay Chang is a California Licensed Clinical Psychologist and has been working in the mental health profession since 1994. Her diverse clinical background includes work with chemical dependency, hospital inpatient care, community mental health, family and at-risk youths outreach projects, as well as developing and directing an addiction program. Having lived and worked in Macau, Hawaii, and San Francisco, she returned to Macau in 2004 and is currently Assistant Professor at the University of Macau in the psychology program and maintains a part-time private clinical practice in Hong Kong.

Introduction

The purpose of this project is to explore the extent to which the gaming industry disturbs family life and challenges the psychological well-being of the citizens of Macau. Action research and the key informant approach provide the basic methods employed in this project. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals and groups considered to be key informants in the community. Textual data were analysed qualitatively for the six dimensions of temporality, belief systems, behaviour, social, relational and future orientation to explore the impact of the gaming industry on family life. Several themes indicate that the gaming industry exerts both a direct and indirect influence on the family and that psychological well-being of individuals and families is in jeopardy.