Family Demographics, Somatic Symptoms and Problem Gambling Among Students in a Nigerian Institution

Abstract

Background: Problem gambling is becoming a potential public health epidemic in southwest Nigeria. Individuals with gambling problems are underdiagnosed and relatively under-recognised. Hence, they rarely present with complaints of gambling problems at clinics. The family plays a significant role in identifying and managing persons with gambling addiction. Healthcare professionals need to have a high index of suspicion and understanding of the relationships between family demographics and the presentation of somatic symptoms among high-risk groups.

Objective: To assess the relationships between family demographics, somatic symptoms, and gambling problems among Nigerian tertiary educational institution students. 

Method: This is a cross-sectional study carried out among 183 students of a tertiary education institution in Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. The Southern Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) were the tools used to assess the pattern of gambling and somatic symptoms, respectively.

Results: The prevalence of gambling disorder was 23% (42/183). There was a significant relationship between somatic symptoms and problem gambling (p = 0.02). The predictors of probable gambling were a positive family history of gambling (OR = 3.64, p = 0.01, CI = 1.34-9.90), gender (OR = 0.36, p = 0.02, CI = 0.15-0.86) and a decreasing level of the father's education (OR = 2.78, p = 0.02, CI = 1.15-6.71). At the same time, monthly allowances (OR= 1.01, p = 0.07) and somatic symptoms were not predictors of problem gambling (OR = 0.41, p = 0.17).

Conclusions: Healthcare professionals need a high index of suspicion when evaluating young persons with somatic symptoms.