1. GAMBLING AND PROBLEM GAMBLING AMONG HUMBER COLLEGE STUDENTS
Kathryn Shea
Humber College, School of Social and Community Services
ABSTRACT
results
CONCLUSIONS
The purpose of this secondary data analysis were to examine what the prevalence’s are of gambling and problem gambling among Humber College students (Saeid, 2013).
In 2013, from September 18th to December 31st, 272 Humber College students completed a web survey and were gathered through the snowball sampling method (Saeid, 2013).
Based on the web survey data analysis, The Gambling Attitude Measure Scale stated a 0.05 probable significant correlation between positive attitudes in gambling and problem gambling (Saeid, 2013).
The web survey data analysis also stated that males who were problem gamblers represented a mean of (Saeid, 2013).
The theoretical framework chosen to explain the prevalence of gambling and problem gambling was the social learning theory (Reith & Dobbie, 2011).
The prevalence of gambling and problem gambling among University and College students were significantly higher than the general adult population in Ontario, Alberta, Scotland and Australia (Williams et al., 2006; Moodie, 2008; Moore, Thomas, Kale, Spence, Zlatevska, Staiger, Graffam, & Kyrios, 2013).
A previous study completed in the field by Mubarak and Blanksby (2013) stated that 8.6% of the University students from the sample were classified as problem gamblers. The results indicated that moderate to high risk gamblers held more explicit positive attitudes towards gambling compared to low risk gamblers and non-gamblers (Sunghwan & Kanetkar, 2010). This study corresponded with the first hypothesis of the current study due to the probable significant level of 0.05 in relation to attitudes in gambling and problem gambling (Sunghwan & Kanetkar, 2010; Mattson et al., 2008; Saeid, 2013)
Moodie (2008) stated that the sample included a total of 1,975 participants. The results indicated that male problem gamblers equalled to 6.9% and female problem gamblers equalled to 1.9% (Moodie, 2008). This study corresponded with the second hypothesis of the current study due to the probable significant level that included a mean of and a standard deviation of for male problem gamblers (Moodie, 2008).
Significant Correlations of Positive Attitudes in Gambling and Problem Gambling
Variables
Pearson Correlations ®
Significance
CPGI* Attitudes towards Harm/Benefit
0.2
0.05
Beliefs* Attitudes towards Harm/Benefit
-0.167
0.01
Beliefs * Attitudes towards morality of gambling
-0.211
Anxiety * CPGI
0.149
The table stated that there were probable significant levels of 0.05 in relation to positive attitudes in gambling and problem gambling among Humber College students (Saeid, 2013).
LIMITATIONS
INTRODUCTION
Problem Gambling by Gender/Anova
One limitation from the study were the inabilities to reach the 500 targeted participants (Saeid, 2013).
The second limitation from the study were only Humber College students consisted of the total sample (Saeid, 2013).
The third limitation from the study were the ethical barriers for the inability to use qualitative measures to conduct the research study (Saeid, 2013).
The fourth limitation from the study were the inabilities to conduct as a qualitative study due to the ethical barriers surrounding confidentiality (Saeid, 2013). N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Male 99
1.3131
Female
171
.5848
others 2
.5000
.70711
The prevalence of gambling and problem gambling among University and College students were significantly higher than the general adult population in Ontario, Alberta, Scotland and Australia (Williams et al., 2006; Moodie, 2008; Moore, Thomas, Kale, Spence, Zlatevska, Staiger, Graffam, & Kyrios, 2013). A previous study completed in the field by Mubarak and Blanksby (2013) stated that 8.6% of the University students from the sample were classified as problem gamblers. The percentage among the sampled University students in Australia were also significantly higher than the 2% general south adult population in Australia (Mubarak & Blanksby, 2013). One hypothesis were the probable significant correlations between positive attitudes of gambling and problem gambling among University and College students (Cummins, Nadorff, & Kelly, 2009). A previous study completed in the field of social sciences indicated that the positive affect attitude were shown to be positively correlated with gambling higher amounts of chips or money recklessly due to the positive belief of winning (Cummins et al., 2009). The second hypothesis were the probable significant correlations between males gambling and problem gambling (Moodie, 2008). A previous study completed in the field indicated that the male problem gamblers consisted of 6.9% of the sample and female problem gamblers consisted of 1.9% from the sample (Moodie, 2008).
Males from the sample represented 99 participants with a mean of and a standard deviation of (Saeid, 2013).
Significant Correlations of Problem Gambling in the Current Study and Literature
Year
Author
Prevalence
2006
Williams, Connolly, Wood, & Nowatzki 7%
2013
Moore, Thomas, Kale, Spence, Zlatevska, Staiger, Graffam, & Kyrios 5%
Mubarak & Blanksby
8.6%
Saeid
9.9%
RECOMMENDATIONS
One recommendation presented from the study were to devote further research studies into larger samples (Saeid, 2013).
The second recommendation presented from the study were to invite guest speakers to Humber College to address the issue of gambling and problem gambling (Saeid, 2013).
The third recommendation presented from the study were to raise awareness to University and College students through problem gambling workshops (Saeid, 2013).
The fourth recommendation presented from the study were to provide training for counselors and provide specialized problem gambling counseling (Saeid, 2013).
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Gambling and problem gambling patterns were explained through the familial structure’s influence on positive norms and techniques in which gambling were learned (Reith & Dobbie, 2011).
The results indicated that gambling social networks played a vital role in the development of gambling and problem gambling patterns (Reith & Dobbie, 2011). The research findings stated how individuals who first experienced gambling within the familial setting began at a younger age compared to gambling with friends and colleagues (Reith & Dobbie, 2011).
Additionally, some individuals began gambling within the familial setting between the ages of eight and twelve years old (Reith & Dobbie, 2011).
The data findings from the table above indicated the problem gambling prevalence among University and College students across four separate research studies (Williams et al., 2006; Moore et al., 2013; Mubarak & Blanksby, 2013; Saeid, 2013).
REFERENCES
LITERATURE REVIEW
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2016). Retrieved from
Cummins, L., Nadorff, M., & Kelly, A. (2009). Winning and positive affect can lead to reckless gambling. Journal of Psychology of Addictive Behaviours, 23(2), doi: /a
Mattson, R., MacKillop, J., Castelda, B., Anderson, E., & Donovick, P. (2008). The factor structure of gambling-related cognitions in an undergraduate university sample. Journal of Psychopathology Behaviour Assessment, (30), doi: /s z
Moodie, C. (2008). Student gambling, erroneous cognitions, and awareness of treatment in Scotland. Journal of Gambling Issues, (21), doi: /jgi
Moore, S., Thomas, A., Kale, S., Spence, M., Zlatevska, N., Staiger, P., Graffam, J., & Kyrios, M. (2013). Problem Gambling among International and Domestic University Students in Australia: Who is at Risk? Journal of Gambling Studies, 29(2), doi: /s
Mubarak, A., & Blanksby, P. (2013). A study on problem and pathological gambling among university students in South Australia. Journal of Higher Education Policy & Management, 35(5), doi: / X
Reith, G., & Dobbie, F. (2011). Beginning gambling: The role of social networks and environment. Journal of Addiction Research and Theory, 19(6), doi: /
Saeid, A. (2013). Gambling and Problem Gambling among Humber College Students. Journal of Social Psychology.
Smith, G. & Wynne, H. (2002). Measuring gambling and problem gambling in Alberta using the Canadian Problem Gambling Index. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Gaming Research Institute.
Sunghwan, Y., & Kanetkar, V. (2010). Implicit measures of attitudes toward gambling: An exploratory study. Journal of Gambling Issues, (24), doi: /jgi
Williams, R., Connolly, D., Wood, R., & Nowatzki, N. (2006). Gambling and problem gambling in a sample of university students. Journal of Gambling Issues, (16). doi: /jgi
METHODOLOGY AND HYPOTHESES
Williams, Connolly, Wood and Nowatzki stated that the students at the University of Lethbridge had a 2.3% higher rate of gambling and problem gambling compared to the 5.2% rate for Alberta adults (Williams et al., 2006; Smith & Wynne, 2002). The sample from the study included 585 students and a thirty minute questionnaire were administered to the students (Williams et al., 2006). The results indicated that 7% of the students from the total sample met the criteria for the identification of a problem or pathological gambler (Williams et al., 2006).
Cummins, Nadorff and Kelly (2009) stated a positive correlation between positive affect in attitude and reckless gambling and problem gambling (Cummins et al., 2009). This sample included 72 University students from a Private University in the mid-west (Cummins et al., 2009). The results also stated that students in the first round of the game who were in the initial winning category delivered more positive affect attitudes than students who were categorized under the initial loosing condition (Cummins et al., 2009).
Moodie (2008) stated that males had significantly higher rates of incorrect cognitions towards gambling activities than University and College females. The sample from the study included a total of 1,975 participants (Moodie, 2008). The results indicated that male problem gamblers equalled to 6.9% and female problem gamblers equalled to 1.9% (Moodie, 2008).
The online survey targeted Humber College students at the Main and Lakeshore campuses and flyers for the survey were handed out and placed in both campus locations (Saeid, 2013).
272 participants participated and completed the web survey (Saeid, 2013).
99 males consisted of 36.4%, 171 females consisted of 62.87% and two individuals who classified themselves as others consisted of 0.74% of the sample (Saeid, 2013).
Two hypotheses were included
1. There were probable significant correlations between positive attitudes of gambling and problem gambling (Saeid, 2013).
2. There were probable positive significant correlations between males gambling and problem gambling (Saeid, 2013).