Gambling disorder among Porto college students

Abstract

Background: Gambling disorder is an emerging problem among young adults and must be researched in order to provide the necessary support. This study aims to characterize the gambling disorder in Porto higher education students. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire by Porto higher education students. The authors developed a self-administered questionnaire that included the South Oaks Gambling Screen questionnaire-Portuguese Version. Results: A total of 1123 responses were reviewed. The participants' average age was 22,4 years (SD=6,2). Gambling activities were performed by 66.4%, most commonly online or video games, "Scratch card" games, skill games, lotteries, and sports bets. The final scores of SOGS-PV suggested 19,7% (CI95%:17,4-22,0) of students may have a gambling condition: 16,6% (CI95%:14,4-18,8) with "potential gambling disorder" and 3,1% (CI95%:2,1-4,1) with "probable gambling disorder". A maximum amount spent in a single day, a change in gambling habits after the covid-19 pandemic, and a predisposition towards males, stand out as contributing factors for the development of this disorder. Conclusions: This study reveals that 19,7% of participants may have a gambling disorder and emphasizes the importance of this pathology in the academic community in order to introduce evidence for physician awareness and prevention programs.