PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF GAMBLING BEHAVIOUR AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The study examinedpsychological correlates of gambling behaviour among secondary school adolescents in Rivers State. The design for the study wascorrelational research design. The population of the study comprised of all 9636 students in senior secondary class two from 3 Local Government Areas (Obio/Apkor, Ahoada East, and Eleme) in the 3 Senatorial Zones of Rivers West, East, and Rivers South of Rivers State, Nigeria. A sample of 963 participants was randomly and independently selected using purposive sampling technique from the 40 schools in the sampled 3 Local Government Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria (Obio/Apkor, Ahoada East, and Eleme). An instrument titled “Adolescent Gambling Behaviour Index” (AGBI) was used to collect data for the study. The Cronbach Alpha reliability was used to establish the internal consistency reliability coefficient 0.76 for the Adolescent Gambling Behaviour Index (AGBI). Responses to the research questions were analyzed with mean and standard deviation, Pearson Product Moment correlation and independent sample t-test respectively, while the corresponding hypotheses were tested with independent sample t-test and linear regression. The findings of the study showed that gender, peer group and location relate significantly to gambling behavior among secondary school students in Rivers State. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that schools should enforce strict disciplinary measures prohibiting any form of gambling among students. Moreso, periodic seminars and orientation programs should be organized to educate students on the effect of gambling on their academics and social behaviour.