Psychological Factors and Sports Gambling Behaviour: Findings among Selected Adolescents in Nigeria

Background: Sports gambling behaviour especially among adolescents has continued to be a source of research concern among psychologists and concerned stakeholders in Nigeria. This is because of the mental health implications it has for the individuals involved, in addition to the financial risks and...

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Main Author: Matthew Olugbenga Olasupo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Messina 2023-12-01
Series:Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cab.unime.it/journals/index.php/MJCP/article/view/3897
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author Matthew Olugbenga Olasupo
author_facet Matthew Olugbenga Olasupo
author_sort Matthew Olugbenga Olasupo
collection DOAJ
description Background: Sports gambling behaviour especially among adolescents has continued to be a source of research concern among psychologists and concerned stakeholders in Nigeria. This is because of the mental health implications it has for the individuals involved, in addition to the financial risks and other attendant social consequences. In an effort to ameliorate this problem, the study examined the role of parenting styles, optimism and peer pressure on sports gambling behaviour among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to select 200 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years (Mean age = 14.08; SD = 1.78) who were purposively selected in a sub-urban community in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire with measures of parenting styles, optimism, peer pressure, sports gambling, and demographic information was used to extract the data that were analysed using correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: From the correlation analyses, there was a significant positive relationship between authoritative parenting style and sports gambling behaviour, a positive relationship between permissive style and sports gambling behaviour, and a positive relationship between peer pressure and sports gambling behaviour. Multiple regression analyses revealed that authoritative style predicted sports gambling behaviour. Permissive parenting style also predicted sports gambling behaviour. Furthermore, peer pressure also predicted sports gambling behaviour. Conclusion: Parenting styles and peer pressure emerged as strong factors impacting sports gambling behaviour among adolescents within the study setting but optimism did not. These findings suggest that psychologists should consider the role of parenting styles (authoritative and permissive) and peer pressure when putting up intervention programs aimed at curbing sports gambling behaviour among adolescents.
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spelling doaj.art-5759c724fc7948a88bedc3ec32009d5a2024-01-10T18:55:28ZengUniversity of MessinaMediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology2282-16192023-12-0111310.13129/2282-1619/mjcp-38973187Psychological Factors and Sports Gambling Behaviour: Findings among Selected Adolescents in NigeriaMatthew Olugbenga Olasupo0Department of Psychology, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Ile-IfeBackground: Sports gambling behaviour especially among adolescents has continued to be a source of research concern among psychologists and concerned stakeholders in Nigeria. This is because of the mental health implications it has for the individuals involved, in addition to the financial risks and other attendant social consequences. In an effort to ameliorate this problem, the study examined the role of parenting styles, optimism and peer pressure on sports gambling behaviour among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to select 200 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years (Mean age = 14.08; SD = 1.78) who were purposively selected in a sub-urban community in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire with measures of parenting styles, optimism, peer pressure, sports gambling, and demographic information was used to extract the data that were analysed using correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: From the correlation analyses, there was a significant positive relationship between authoritative parenting style and sports gambling behaviour, a positive relationship between permissive style and sports gambling behaviour, and a positive relationship between peer pressure and sports gambling behaviour. Multiple regression analyses revealed that authoritative style predicted sports gambling behaviour. Permissive parenting style also predicted sports gambling behaviour. Furthermore, peer pressure also predicted sports gambling behaviour. Conclusion: Parenting styles and peer pressure emerged as strong factors impacting sports gambling behaviour among adolescents within the study setting but optimism did not. These findings suggest that psychologists should consider the role of parenting styles (authoritative and permissive) and peer pressure when putting up intervention programs aimed at curbing sports gambling behaviour among adolescents.https://cab.unime.it/journals/index.php/MJCP/article/view/3897addictiondeveloping countrypsychological factorsrecreational activitiessports gambling.
spellingShingle Matthew Olugbenga Olasupo
Psychological Factors and Sports Gambling Behaviour: Findings among Selected Adolescents in Nigeria
Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology
addiction
developing country
psychological factors
recreational activities
sports gambling.
title Psychological Factors and Sports Gambling Behaviour: Findings among Selected Adolescents in Nigeria
title_full Psychological Factors and Sports Gambling Behaviour: Findings among Selected Adolescents in Nigeria
title_fullStr Psychological Factors and Sports Gambling Behaviour: Findings among Selected Adolescents in Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Psychological Factors and Sports Gambling Behaviour: Findings among Selected Adolescents in Nigeria
title_short Psychological Factors and Sports Gambling Behaviour: Findings among Selected Adolescents in Nigeria
title_sort psychological factors and sports gambling behaviour findings among selected adolescents in nigeria
topic addiction
developing country
psychological factors
recreational activities
sports gambling.
url https://cab.unime.it/journals/index.php/MJCP/article/view/3897
work_keys_str_mv AT matthewolugbengaolasupo psychologicalfactorsandsportsgamblingbehaviourfindingsamongselectedadolescentsinnigeria