Determinants of gambling behavior among out-of-school adolescents in the Ibadan metropolis, Oyo state, Nigeria

Gambling is an activity that occupies different spaces and roles across different cultures. Gambling do not only lead to waste of resources but could also lead to depression, anxiety, restlessness, suicidal thought or suicide. While much has been written about gambling in developed nation, only few studies have examined the predictive factor of gambling among out of school adolescents in Nigeria. This study, therefore investigated dysfunctional family, socio economic status and religiosity as determinants of gambling among out-of-school adolescents in the Ibadan Metropolis. A descriptive research design of correlational type was employed in the selection of Two hundred and fifty (250) out-of-school adolescents within the Ibadan Metropolis using simple random sampling technique. Three research questions were raised and answered in the study. The independent variables were measured with relevant standardized instruments. These include dysfunctional family scale (α =.68) socio economic status (α = .64) religiosity (α= .73) and the gambling motivation scale (r = .69). Data was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient and multiple regressions at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that there was a significant positive relationship between gambling and dysfunctional family (r = 0.275, p < 0.05), socio economic status (r = 0.222, p < 0.05) and religiosity (r= 0.310, p < 0.05) among the participants. It was also discovered that dysfunctional family, socio economic status and religiosity jointly predicted gambling. (Adj.R2= 0.230) This suggests that all the factors combined accounted for 23.0% in the prediction of gambling. On the relative contribution, socio economic status was found to be the most potent contributor of gambling, followed by dysfunctional family and lastly, religiosity. In conclusion, the three independent variables (dysfunctional family, socio economic status and religiosity) are determinants of gambling among out-of-school adolescents in the Ibadan Metropolis. In view of this, it was recommended that religious bodies should assist and guide adolescents in their worship centers to deviate from patronizing bet shops and other gambling activities. The concept of contentment and hard work should also be taught to the adolescents at home. Lastly, parents should also leave up to their responsibilities as failure could promote gambling behaviour among the adolescents in attempt to meet their basic needs.