Dr Angela Ebere Abaa
Abstract
Using ex post facto research design, this study examined social factors associated with adolescents gambling behaviour in Rivers State. The population of the study comprised of all 9,636 students in senior secondary II from 3 Local Government Areas (Obio/Akpor, 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 purposively and randomly selected from the 40 schools in the sampled 3 Local Government Areas in Rivers State, Nigeria. Two instruments, Adolescent Gambling Behaviour Index (AGBI), and Peer Pressure Inventory (PPI) were used to collect data for the study. The Cronbach Alpha was used to establish the internal consistency reliability coefficient of 0.76 for the Adolescent Gambling Behaviour Index (AGBI) and 0.78 for Peer Pressure Inventory (PPI). The data collected were analyzed with Pearson Product Moment correlation and independent t-test analysis. The findings of the study showed that peer pressure and gender relate significantly to adolescents’ gambling behaviour in Rivers State. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that periodic seminars and orientation programmes should be organized to educate students on the effect of gambling on their academics and social behaviour.