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Psychosocial Predictors Of Problem Gambling Among Male College Students

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 Iranian Journal of Health Psychology Received: 07/27/2022
Vol. 6, No. 1, Serial Number 15, p.21-30, Winter 2023 Accepted: 11/13/2023
Paper Type: Research Paper

Psychosocial Predictors Of Problem Gambling Among Male College Students In

Nigeria
Adeyemo Sunday1*, Aluko Tolulope2
Abstract
Objective: Problem gambling is a non-addiction issue that may arise even from recreational engagement with gambling
activity. In Nigeria, not much has been written about this menace to the extent that the focus of interest of the government
is on the economic gains of gambling activities rather than how to curtail the problems arising therefrom. Therefore,
this study was aimed at investigating psychosocial predictors (age, suicidality, and financial strain) contributing either
independently or collectively to problem gambling among male undergraduate students in Ogun state, Nigeria.
Method: This study adopted a correlational research design. 201 participants were recruited using a purposive sampling
technique. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires that included bio-data information, Problem Gambling
Severity Index developed by (Ferris & Whynne, 2001), Suicidal Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) developed
by Osman, Bagge, Gutierrez, Konick, Kopper, & Barrios (2001) and Financial Strain Survey developed by (Aldana &
Lijenquist, 1998).
Results: Multiple Regression Analysis was used to analyze the data, and the results revealed that financial strain
contributed more significantly to problem gambling (t (196) = 5.348, P.001), = 36, while all psychosocial variables
contributed collectively to problem gambling (F (3, 196) = 9.670, P.01, AdjR2 =.12) among male undergraduate students
in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Conclusions: The study concluded that psychosocial factors-age, financial strain, and suicidality collectively contributed
to problem gambling while only financial strain independently significantly predicted problem gambling among male
university students in Ago-Iwoye community of Olabisi Onabanjo University. The study recommended that students
receive financial counselling and planning in order to manage their money effectively.

Keywords:Problem Gambling, Age, Financial Strain, Suicidality, Male Undergraduate Students.

Introduction on the dice game the iconic bells of Jesus Christ in

Gambling behavioral activity is not new throughout St. Paul’s Cathedral, England (Meyer et al. 2009).
the world. Archeological records showed that Problem gambling is an addiction-like issue that
Egyptians and people from the Middle East involves the compulsion to gamble even when
gambled (Schwartz, 2007). So also is the behavioral it is unwise to do so (Lungu, 2020). It is a non-
problem arising from gambling behavior, as this substance addiction that includes being dependent
was written about by Plato. A noble faux pas on gambling and increasing the number of stakes
traceable to problem gambling was recorded by on games just as it is in substance addiction.
King Henry VIII when he threw away in betting The definition of problem gambling according
to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-V) of
1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Olabisi the American Psychological Association (2013)
Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
2. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chrisland
recognizes that this behavioral condition can lead
University, Abeokuta, Nigeria. to substantial clinical distress or impairments.
*Corresponding Author: Adeyemo Sunday Oladotun, Email:
[Link]@[Link] But also, we can find those experiencing this
 Iranian Journal of Health Psychology; Vol.6, No.1,Winter 2023 22

problem among those who engage in gambling as financial strain) of pathological gambling among
a recreational activity which may not necessarily university undergraduate students in Nigeria.
lead to any clinical condition (Machoka, 2020). The National Lottery Act of Nigeria (2005)
Problem gambling is a risky behavior similar to criminalizes anybody less than 17 years old
maladaptive sexual activity (Farre et al., 2015), playing gambling. Meanwhile, evidence has
and it has been shown to lead to loss of school and shown that older age influences problem gambling
hostel fees, absence from classes, sleep problems (Kristiansen & Jensen, 2014). More empirical
resulting from online overnight gambling, and evidence has shown that research on gambling and
culminating in academic failure most especially for problem gambling is more focused on adolescents
youths in university (Stinchfield, et al., 2006). This (Blin-Pike et al., 2010; Riley et al., 2021)-these
social-public health menace has received lip service adolescents are shown to be more developmentally
from relevant bodies in Nigeria because, rather different than youths (Defoe et al., 2015). According
than nipping it in the bud through the establishment to Livazovic & Bojcic (2019), in a study on the
of an agency to take care of problem gamblers, role of sociodemographic traits, family quality, and
the government is setting up a regulatory body risk behavior in adolescents’ problem gambling
to harness the huge funds the gambling industry behavior, they found that their older respondents
generates for them (Adigun, 2020). get a higher score on problem gambling measures.
Relatively, recent figures in Nigeria showed However, McBride and Derevensky (2016)
that money realizable from betting rose from concluded that age groups were not different for
132 billion nairas in 2016 to 185 billion nairas in the problem gamblers category in their study.
just one year (Awagyiram & Akinyelure, 2018). This explains why age differences and gambling
Surprisingly, 60 million Nigerians in their young disorders need more research attention, especially
and middle-aged groups bet on sports (News among university students.
Agency of Nigeria, 2019). This suggests that this is The area of research concerning suicidality and
an issue that needs the attention of all stakeholders- pathological gambling among young adults is
researchers, government, community, and religious luxuriant. Suicidality is a term that means suicide
organizations to stem the rising trend of the menace, intention, plan, attempt, and even completed
as it will be disastrous if this problem is not well suicide. Suicidality, especially ideating about
understood for proper regulations arise thereon. committing suicide, occurs more among young
Essentially, gambling is a glamorous venture people. Blaszcynski and Farrell (1998) conducted
among university students who are known for risk- psychological autopsies for all suicide deaths that
taking and adventure (Machoka, 2020; Alimi et al., happened over 3 years in Victoria, Australia. Their
2020). study revealed that 44 people died of gambling-
Moreover, technology and internet services have related suicide. These authors also established
enhanced the accessibility of gambling activities that depression, hopelessness, helplessness, and
(Derevensky et al., 2004; Zhao et al., 2018; Bankole, psychological pain could predispose an individual
2019). While the effect of problem gambling is to suicide. Moreover, suicide ideation and suicide
raising its ugly head in Nigeria, the efforts to arrest attempts, which could all be syndromes of mood
it are not yet domesticated as research opinions disorders, have relationships with gambling
about it are gleaned from Western literature. It is disorders (Ronzitti et al., 2017; Komoto, 2014).
therefore important for this study to investigate A recent study that investigated the relationship
psychosocial risk factors (age, suicidality, and between suicidality and problem gambling among
 Psychosocial Predictors Of Problem Gambling; Oladotun & Tolulope. 23

young adults living in Great Britain found that university students (Bankole, 2019; Bankole
both men and women who were suicide attempters et al., 2019 and Olatunji et al., 2020), but little
at some point in the past also had problems with attention has been paid to problem gambling or
gambling (Wardle & McManus, 2021). Similarly, any psychosocial variables that could influence
in an African-based study, Kagwa et al. (2022) it among Nigerian university students. Therefore,
reported that the most common gambling-related this study aimed at investigating the role of age,
suicide was seen among university students who suicidality, and financial strain among university
had used their school fees to gamble and then lost. students. We hypothesized that there would be
Engaging in gambling activity can help university significant independent and joint contributions of
students from low socioeconomic backgrounds age, suicidality, and financial strain on problem
live more comfortably (Lungu, 2020); however, gambling among students in Olabisi Onabanjo
the financial gain can also play an important role University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state, southwest
in gambling disorder (Lelonek-Kuneta & Bartczuk, Nigeria. This study will add to the burgeoning
2021). Interestingly, gamblers tend to increase their literature on the risk factors of problem gambling
stakes when they have been on winning streaks in Nigeria and also provide evidence for directions
and vice-versa when they have been losing (Xu & of intervention.
Harvey, 2014). The financial support that gambling
provides is serving as a means of existence for Method
students who engage in it. The very concept of Participants and Procedure
gambling, in which after staking, a gambler expects This research was a correlational study. The
something in return, ensures that money could be sampling technique used in this study was purposive
one of the motivations for engaging in gambling. sampling. This is informed because the participants
According to Bankole (2019), this leads gamblers would be better able to describe the phenomenon
to fantasize that the benefits of gambling would rub of the researchers’ interest. The researchers
off positively impact many aspects of their lives. contacted betting game shop owners who would
Alternatively, financial strain, which is viewed recognize bettors who visited their establishments.
as economic distress and being unable to meet Participants were approached by research assistants
financial goals (Adam et al., 2016), interlinks with who had been trained on how to approach them.
maladaptive, uncontrollable behaviors such as The research assistants were psychology students
substance use (Shaw et al., 2011) and risky sexual who were familiar with the research setting.
behavior (Farre [Link], 2015). Bankole et al. (2019), The research assistants got the consent of the
while investigating personality and financial strain participants before asking them to fill out the
as predictors of gambling behavior revealed that questionnaires. The inclusion criteria were being
financial strain presupposes gambling behavior. male, having self-identification as a regular student
Speaking about problem gambling, a more direct at the university, and already paying for games at
result from Koomson et al. (2022) believed that the betting shops. At the time of data collection,
there is a positive association between problem there were five (5) betting shops in the community.
gambling and financial stress. This suggests that The research assistants gathered information from
as there is more engagement in problem gambling bettors who attended these betting establishments.
activities, there tend to be more losses in finances. The data was collected over three weeks. All
Evidence has shown research efforts on gambling students who lived off campus in the Ago-Iwoye
behavior activity in Nigeria among youths and community, which is the university town, were
 Iranian Journal of Health Psychology; Vol.6, No.1,Winter 2023 24

eligible to participate, but only two hundred and ever get headaches from worrying about money;
(201) undergraduate students were chosen from and I find it difficult to pay my bills. For this study,
the total students. The setting of the research was a Cronbach’s reliability coefficient of.80 was
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, estimated. The study by Bankole (2019) reported a
Ogun state. This university is owned and operated reliability coefficient of .91.
by the Ogun state government in Nigeria and runs Section C: Section C: This scale was used to
on a multi-campus model. This university is mainly elicit participant responses to suicidal behavior,
an off-campus entity, so participants were accosted and it was measured using the Suicide Behavior
at places where they engaged in betting activities in Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), which was
the communities where they stay. developed by Osman, Bagge, Gutierrez, Konick,
Kopper, and Barrios (2001). It is a four-item scale
Ethical Statement that assesses lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts,
The research was conducted with strict adherence suicidal ideation frequency over the previous year,
to ethical protocol. Participants were assured that the threat of suicidal behavior, and self-reported
their participation was voluntary and that they likelihood of future suicidal behavior. This study
could withdraw their participation at any time. obtained a Cronbach’s reliability coefficient of .68.
The information of the consenting participants was Section D: This elicited a response on problem
anonymized. gambling and it was measured with Problem
Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) by Ferris and
Measures Wynne (2001). It is the standardized measure of at-
Data were collected using scales that included risk behavior in problem gambling. It is a tool based
demographic information (age and types of games on research on the common signs and consequences
played), financial stress, suicidal behavior, and of problematic gambling that is meant to measure
problem gambling. It was divided into five sections, problem gambling among the general population.
numbered A through E. The scale is a 9-item questionnaire. Participants
Section A: will respond to these questions on a 4-point scale
The elicited responses from subjects based on anchored at 0 (never) and 4 (always). One item
demographic information. Specifically, questions was negatively worded to control for response
about the respondents’ ages betting agents, betting bias. The higher the score on the scale, the greater
devices, and the types of games they play were the the risk of having a gambling problem. The scale
focus of the information provided in this section. yielded a Cronbach’s reliability coefficient of .85.
The games could be either offline or online. A relatively recent study by Ahmadi & Gorbani
Section B: This evoked responses concerning (2021) indicated a 0.79 Cronbach alpha score.
financial strain, which were measured using a
financial strain scale. Aldana and Liljenquist Method of data analysis
created an 18-item rating scale (1998). The The scores derived during the data collection from
scale aids in the identification of people who participants were subjected to analysis using the
are experiencing financial hardship as well as Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20. The
potential negative health consequences. The scale’s formulated hypothesis was tested using multiple
response format ranged from never (1) to always regression analysis. Before that, the zero-order
(5). The scale includes items such as, there are correlation was computed to map out the variables
disagreements about money in my home; do you that are associated with one another.
 Psychosocial Predictors Of Problem Gambling; Oladotun & Tolulope. 25

Results responded across the variables. For age 19-21,

Table 1: Summary of data showing the demographics 22-25, 26 and above. 60(29.9%) respondents
of the respondents in the study were between the first age group, 91(45.3%), 50
(24.9%) respectively for the two other groups.
Variables Group Frequency Percentage
The highest number of respondent fall between
19-21 60 29.9%
Age 22-25 91 45.3%
age 22-25. For the demographic variable on
26-above 50 24.9% sport agent 48.8% of respondent picked sport
Total 201 100%
bet ahead of Nairabet, Surebet and Betking. For
the type of game 37.85 of respondents identified
98 with sport bet ahead of virtual (20.4%), color-
Bet9ja 48.8%
47
Betting Nairabet 23.4% color 37(18.4%), racing 24(11.9%), casino9
36
Agent Surebet 17.9%
Betking
20
10%
(4.5%), Lotto 14(7%). For Devise used for
betting: Laptop 47(23.4%), Smart Phone102
Total 201 100% (50.7%), Tablet 20(10%) Offline 32(15.9).
Virtual 41 20.4%
The result of zero-order correlation analysis
Color/color 37 18.4% presented in table 2 shows significant positive
Type of Racing 24 11.9% relationships between age and financial strain (r
game Sport bet 76 37.8%
Casino 9 4.5%
= .16, P <.005). In the same token, a significant
Lotto 14 7.0% positive relationship between financial strain and
Total 201 100% problem gambling (r = .35, P <.001). This implies
Laptop that the more people experience financial strain
47 23.4%
Gambling
Smart
102 50.7% the more is the experience of problem gambling.
Phone
Devise 20 10.0% However, there is no significant relationship
Tablet
32 15.9% between age and suicidality (r = .01, P >.005),
Offline
Total 201 100% no significant relationship between age and
financial strain (r =.08, P >.005), no significant
relationship between age and problem gambling
The table above outlines the frequency
(r =.04, P >.005) and no significant relationship
distribution of the four demographic variables
between suicidality and problem gambling (r =
in the study. The total of 201 respondent
-.01, P >.005)

Table 2 Zero-Order Correlation Showing Relationship among Age, Suicidality, Financial Strain, and
Problem Gambling

1 2 3 4 X SD
Age _ 1.95 0.74

Suicide .01 _ 6.63 3.17

Financial Strain .08 .16* _ 11.05 5.09

Gambling .04 -.01 .35** _ 28.28 5.95

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
 Iranian Journal of Health Psychology; Vol.6, No.1,Winter 2023 26

Hypothesis Testing influence of age, suicidality and financial strain

on problem gambling
The hypothesis which stated that age, suicidality,
and financial strain will significantly jointly and
independently predict problem gambling among
Discussions and Conclusions
The primary aim of this study was to investigate
male students of Olabisi Onabanjo University,
the role of age, suicidality, and financial strain on
Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria was tested with a Multiple
problem gambling among students staying off-
Regression Analysis. The result is presented in
campus at a university. The importance of this study
table 3.
cannot be underemphasized because research into
Table 3: Multiple Regression Analysis Showing Influence of Age, Suicidality, and Financial Strain on
Problem Gambling
Predictors R R2 F Sig β t Sig

Age 0.013 0.192 .848

Suicidality .359 .129 9.670 .000 -0.064 -0.946 .345

Financial Strain 0.362 5.348 .00

The result in table 3 reveals a significant joint gambling and gambling disorders among university
influence of age, suicidality, and financial strain students in Nigeria needs to gain traction. The
on problem gambling (F (3, 196) = 9.670; P < challenge that problem gambling creates for youths
.01, AdjR2= .12). The result further shows the is similar to the features of addiction. As indicated
impact of all the predicting variables jointly by Ahmadi et al. (2021), problem gambling
accounted for about 12.9% of the variation in mischaracterizes attentional abilities, which makes
problem gambling. Furthermore, result also those suffering from it continue to engage in it.
reveals only financial strain {t (196) = 5.348,
P <.001), β= 36} independently predicted This current study ran a multiple regression analysis
problem gambling significantly while age {t to determine the role of psychosocial variables
(196) = 0.192, P >.005), β=.013}, suicidality such as age, suicidality, and financial strain on
{t (196) = -0.946, P >.005), β= .064} could problem gambling. The result showed only the role
not. This means that financial strain is a strong of financial strain in accurately predicting problem
factor that made male undergraduate students gambling. This means that financial strain will
to experience problem gambling. Therefore the create a hole in the pockets of problem gamblers.
hypothesis is partially accepted. The study of Hu et al. (2014) provided a likely
Table 1: Summary of data showing the reason for this. Their study supported a notion
demographics of the respondents in this study called the gambler’s fallacy, which is a belief that
Table 2: Zero order correlation showing the a gambler who had consistently lost some games
relationships among age, suicidality, financial would continue to lose because he would keep on
strain and problem gambling staking riskier odds despite evidence of less money.
Table 3: Multiple Regression Analysis showing Furthermore, Koomson et al. (2022) simplified this
 Psychosocial Predictors Of Problem Gambling; Oladotun & Tolulope. 27

by explaining that problem gamblers experience from age 16-24, while the participants of this study
an inability to maintain savings, are highly in debt, were undergraduate students who were physically
and are unable to meet up with emergency funding, recruited at the betting shops off the campus of
which are characteristics of financial strain. The Olabisi Onabanjo University. Moreover, while
effect of this on university students could be such studies in this part of the world have yet to establish
damning that they could use their school fees to the role of suicidality in problem gambling but
chase their losses. have found something of a semblance of interlink
Age was shown not to independently influence between mood problems and gambling behavior
problem gambling among the participants of this (Bankole, 2019), there has been a preponderance of
current study. Livazovic et al. (2019), in their study, evidence for depression and other mood symptoms
showed that the older participants experienced such as suicidality (suicide ideation, attempt)
more problems with gambling than the younger associated with gambling disorder (Ronzitti, et al.,
ones. It should be noted that Livaszovic et al. were 2017; Komoto, 2014) in some literature. Therefore,
conducted among adolescents while this present there should be more research efforts in this area in
study was among college students. Problem Nigeria. Further studies should explore the impact
gambling has been observed to be different among of some psychosocial factors on problem gambling.
adolescents by Defoe et al. (2015). They opined that Much emphasis is placed on the profits made
adolescents who are aged 11-19, are fundamentally from gambling rather than the harm that problem
different from adults in their appraisal of risk, which gambling causes to Nigerian youths. However, this
characterizes gambling activity. An extension study has been able to establish empirical evidence
of this could be that adults in the university may for the prediction of problem gambling by financial
be better at being able to appraise risk more than strain. This implies that government and university
adolescents because the pre-frontal part of the authorities should ensure that students receive
brain for executive function, which is the seat of teaching on financial literacy and planning so that
decision, is more fully developed in adults than they know how to manage their finances better and
in adolescents. The study of Olatunji et al. (2020) how to engage the money in positive activities.
agreed with the finding of this current study and Moreover, awareness and sensitization programs
advanced the reason that university students were about the financial shortfalls that problem gambling
less receptive to gambling problems because of the can cause should be prioritized amongst students.
focus and concentration dedicated to academic and As it is common in addiction prevention programs,
vocational work more than other domains of their harm reduction concerning problem gambling
lives. should be a concern for all stakeholders involved
This present study discovered that suicidality did in training university students. In addition, problem
not independently contribute to problem gambling gambling counseling services can be established as
among male college students. The result of Wardle part of a treatment strategy for problem gambling.
et al. (2020) was a disparity with this present All these are important because the future of the
study. The point of difference could be the focus country rests squarely on the better mental health
on the participants of the two studies. Wardle et status of the youth.
al.’s participants were youths recruited online and This study concluded that psychosocial factors
 Iranian Journal of Health Psychology; Vol.6, No.1,Winter 2023 28

such as age, financial strain, and suicidality all students’ academic performance in University of
contributed to problem gambling, but only financial Ilorin, Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative
strain independently significantly predicted Technology Integration in Education. 3(2) 45-54
problem gambling among male university students American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic
at Olabisi Onabanjo University’s Ago-Iwoye and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th

community. This study employed male participants, edn) (DSM–5) Arlington: American Psychiatric

so applying the results to the female gender should Publishing.

be done with caution. Further studies can ensure Blaszczynski, A. and Farrell, E. (1998). A case series of
44 completed gambling related suicides. Journal of
that both genders are adequately represented. The
Gambling Studies, 14, 93–110.
outcomes of this study should be conservatively
Bankole, .E.T. (2019). Patterns and prevalent of gambling
interpreted among the general population as the
behaviour among youths in south-west Nigeria: A
participants were a subset of the general population
case study of youths in Oyo and Ekiti state. British
in the university. Other researchers can undertake
Journal of Psychology Research; 7(2), 24-26
similar studies within the general population. The
Bankole, E.T., Adebunmi, O. & Bankole, A.M. (2019).
operationalization of gambling disorder according
Personality traits and financial strain as determinants
to the scale used suggests that caution should be
of gambling behaviour among youths in Nigeria: A
applied when the results of this study are to be used
case study of youths in Oyo State and Ekiti State.
because other studies may utilize other scales with
American International Journal of Social Science
strict definitions of gambling disorder. Research: 4(1); 1-8, ISSN 2576-103X E-ISSN 2576-
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