A meta-analytical synthesis and examination of pathological and problem gambling rates among college athletes

ABSTRACT

Limited attention has been paid specifically to college athlete gambling in the body of literature. This research article is the first meta-analysis of its type, presenting an up-to-date proportion of those athletes exhibiting gambling pathology as assessed by the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). A thorough literature review and coding procedure yielded data estimates retrieved from 6 studies conducted between 1987 and the present, surveying 2,130 college athletes in the United States. The estimated proportion of probable pathological gamblers among college-athletes was computed at 6.46%. Overall rates of subclinical problem gambling were computed at 8.97%. Statistical significance was found in the influence of the percentage of non-White students on problem gambling rates. The implications of these results as well as recommendations for future practice in dealing with college athletes and disordered gambling on campus are outlined and described in detail for administrators, faculty, university staff, and coaches.

KEYWORDS:

• Gambling disorder
• college athletes
• meta-analysis
• prevalence
• pathological gambling
• student-athletes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Donald E. Nowak, Jr., Ph.D., CRC joined the Medaille faculty in the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology in July 2014. He earned his master’s degree in mental health counseling and his Ph.D. in counselor education at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Nowak’s work and research often reflects his concern for young people and addiction, specifically gambling. His fields of specialization include Online/Hybrid Course Construction and Instruction, Group Counseling, Grief and Loss Issues/Counseling, Gambling & Addiction Studies, and Counselor Wellness/Self-Care. Dr. Nowak resides in the Western New York region where he was born and raised.

ORCID

Donald E. Nowak http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7077-7358