Family Related Factors and Gambling Addiction among Juveniles in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Gambling addiction is a serious issue that can affect people of all ages, including juveniles. While gambling can be a harmless recreational activity for some, it can lead to addiction for others. Gambling addiction can cause significant problems among juveniles, including financial problems, strained relationships with family and friends, and poor academic performance. The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between family related factors and gambling addiction among juveniles in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The study focuses specifically on the influence of parental care and parental influence on gambling addiction among juveniles. The study adopted cross sectional survey research design. The study adopted simple random and purposive sampling technique. Research instrument was administered to three hundred and eighty-four (384) respondents selected from the study area. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. They were statistically analyzed using Simple Linear Regression. All hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The research findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between parental care, financial strain, parental influence, peer pressure and gambling addiction among juveniles’ in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommends that parents should encourage their children to participate in school-based extra-curricular activities such as sport, creative arts or youth groups where they have the opportunity to broaden their social networks. This will help keep them away from gambling.