Attitudes towards and perception of gambling among secondary school students in a developing country

ABSTRACT

Gambling is common in Nigeria and over the years has gained wide acceptability among the populace. Improved technology and legalization of gambling have led to increased gambling opportunities among young people. The aim of this study is to determine the attitude towards and perception of gambling among a sample of secondary school students in South East Nigeria. A total of 507 male students from three male-only urban Secondary Schools in Owerri, Imo State participated in the study. Multistage sampling technique was used in sample selection. Data was collected using a self-administered socio-demographic questionnaire and the 9 Item Attitude Towards Gambling Scale. Results showed an overall negative perception of gambling. Majority of the respondents (82.8%) perceived gambling as a risky activity while few (27.3%) perceived it as a good way of earning an income quickly. More than half of the respondents (52.7%) believed that gambling yields a high return. There was a significant association between parental gambling and positive attitude towards gambling (X = 6.27, p = 0.04). Thus, preventive strategies targeted towards changing gambling attitudes in parents may serve a dual role of changing attitudes and perception of gambling in their offspring.

KEYWORDS:

• Gambling
• attitude
• perception
• students
• Africa

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the research assistants who helped with data collection.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this paper.

Notes on contributors

Chinyere Mirian Aguocha

Chinyere Mirian Aguocha is a psychiatrist and a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. She is a lecturer at Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State and an honorary consultant psychiatrist at Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Imo State. Currently collaborates with The Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry with support from CBM International to run the Health Action for Psychiatric Problems In Nigeria including Epilepsy and SubstanceS (HAPPINESS) Pilot Project Imo State. This is a new project which aims to provide accessible, quality mental health care to the people of Imo State through the existing primary health care system. She is the Head of Department of Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State.

Chukwuma B. Duru

Chukwuma B. Duru is a consultant Community Physician with an interest in mental health. He is a lecturer at Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State. He has authored several papers and is the current Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu.

Emeka Chinwuba Nwefoh

Emeka Chinwuba Nwefoh is a psychiatrist and a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians and a lecturer at Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State. He is an expert in mental health systems and policy development.

Appolos Chidi Ndukuba

Appolos Chidi Ndukuba is a Reader at the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Kennedy U. Amadi

Kennedy U. Amadi is a lecturer at the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Emmanuel Omamurhomu Olose

Emmanuel Omamurhomu Olose is a lecturer at the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Calabar, Nigeria.

Monday Nwite Igwe

Monday Nwite Igwe is a psychiatrist and honorary consultant at the Department of Psychological Medicine, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria. He teaches psychiatry at Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.