Family Variables and Precautionary Machineries to Gambling among Students in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated family variables and precautionary machineries to gambling among students in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examined the influence of parental supervision, quality of the parent-child dyad, and parental discipline practices on precautionary machineries to gambling among students. Three research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 21,638 students in secondary schools within Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District. A sample size of 393 respondents was selected using multi sampling procedure and simple sampling technique. Data for the study were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled Family Variables and Precautionary Machineries to Gambling Questionnaire (FVPMGQ). The instrument was validated by experts in Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling, and Psychological Foundations, while its reliability was established using Cronbach Alpha reliability method which yielded an acceptable reliability coefficient of .87. Data collected were analyzed using simple regression analysis to determine the influence and significance of the independent variables on precautionary machineries to gambling among students. The findings revealed that there is a strong positive influence of parental supervision on precautionary machineries to gambling among students. The study also found an exceptionally strong positive influence of the quality of the parent-child dyad on precautionary machineries to gambling among students. In addition, there was a very strong positive influence of parental discipline practices on precautionary machineries to gambling among students. The findings further showed that parental supervision, quality of parent-child dyad, and parental discipline practices significantly influence precautionary machineries to gambling among students. Based on the findings, the study concluded that family variables are critical factors in preventing gambling behaviours among students. It was therefore recommended among others that parents should strengthen supervision of students, maintain healthy parent-child relationships, and adopt consistent disciplinary practices to reduce students’ involvement in gambling activities.