Researchers, in the new study, also have found that about 26.1 per cent of secondary school students in Nigeria’s rural areas have developed gambling disorder.
The study, carried out among secondary school students in Igboora, a rural community in South West Nigeria, at least 26 per cent of them had gambled at least once.
The researchers said those found gambling also had a lower quality of life compared to their counterparties that were not into gambling.
Also, a higher odds for gambling was recorded among those whose friends also gamble or living near gambling centres.
The study, at the sideline of 2017 iResearch meeting and fair of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan included Drs Olaide Olabumoye, Obioma Uchendu and Oladipo Ogunbode at the University of Ibadan in conjunction with Professor Odunsanya at the Lagos State College of medicine. It was organised by the College of Medicine Research and Innovation Management (CRIM) unit.
“Gambling is a mental health disorder spectrum that includes at risk gambling and problem gambling. There is a similarity between problem gambling and substance abuse. This has influenced its classification as an addiction,” said Dr Olabumoye.
She declared that gambling disorders are associated with numerous negative consequences and are highly correlated with other risky behaviours in the college student population.
According to her, although most people see gambling as something that is more in urban communities, civilisation, the use of devices and access to internet had made it spread beyond urban areas.
Dr Olabumoye, who remarked that age of people into gambling was decreasing, said gambling in adolescents could become a serious problem that results into psychological difficulties, unmanageable debt and failing school grades.
She said that Nigeria needs to have legislation to control siting of gambling centres, while urging parents to get more involved in their children’s social life as well as be good role models for them.
Also, she said that schools need to engage students more when they are within the school premises, adding, “we found that schools that had good connection with them and maintains good discipline had fewer students involved in gambling.”
Research has shown that teenagers and college-aged young adults are more impulsive and at higher risk for developing gambling disorders than adults.
Most adults with a gambling problem started gambling at an early age. Scientists have learned that the adolescent brain is still growing, which accounts for the frequently impulsive behaviour and unwise decisions of teenagers.
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