Psychological Correlates Of Gambling Behaviour Among Secondary School Adolescents In Rivers State
Love Nwamadi Ph.D
Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, Nigeria
Keywords: Psychological correlates, Self-Esteem, Emotional Intelligence, Gambling Behaviour
Abstract
The study examined psychological correlates of gambling behaviour among secondary school adolescents in Rivers State. The design for the study was correlational 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). Three instruments; Adolescent Gambling Behaviour Index (AGBI), Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) were 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). The data collected were were analyzed with Pearson Product Moment correlation. The findings of the study showed that emotional intelligence relate significantly to gambling behavior among secondary school students in Rivers State whereas self-esteem did not. 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.