Effect of social gambling on the mental well-being of the youth in Nakawa Division, Kampala District, Uganda. A cross-sectional study.

Albert Louis Elwa; Chrysostom  Ahimbisibwe

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2627

Authors

Albert Louis Elwa Faculty of Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Kisubi, University of Kisubi
Br. Chrysostom Ahimbisibwe Faculty of Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Kisubi, University of Kisubi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2627

Keywords:

Social gambling, Mental well-being, Youth in Nakawa Division

Abstract

Background:

The effect of social gambling is most pronounced on social and environmental well-being. The study aims to analyse the effect of social gambling on the mental well-being of the youth in Nakawa Division, Kampala District, Uganda.

Methodology:

A quantitative cross-sectional study. The target population was all youth in Nakawa Division, Kampala. The accessible population comprised youth in four randomly selected parishes in Nakawa Division, totaling about 11,050 youth.

Results:

There was a significant effect of social gambling on mental well-being (β=.139, p=.007). The study results show that social gambling significantly accounted for 1.9% of the variance in mental well-being (R² = .0.19, F (1,369), p =.007). The regression coefficient for social gambling was 1.093, with a standard error of 0.405. This implies that for every unit increase in social gambling behaviour, mental well-being increases by 1.093 units. The positive relationship between social gambling and mental well-being was found to be statistically significant (t (369) = 2.701, p=0.007). R² is below 0.25, indicating that the effect size is small. The R²of 0.019 obtained in the present regression model indicates that social gambling behaviour plays a less substantial role in mental well-being. The majority of the participants had attained Advanced Level (A-level) education (37.9%) as their highest level of education.

Conclusion:

Social gambling has a weak but statistically significant positive relationship with youth mental well-being, mainly influencing social and environmental well-being. Social gambling appears to provide opportunities for peer bonding and recreation, which may offer temporary psychological benefits.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that the Ministry of Education and Sports and the National Council for Higher Education introduce courses and modules on problem gambling in universities and other higher learning institutions.

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