PhD
PhD by Research
Our PhD by research programme is based on independent study, guided by your assigned supervisors and support system. It typically [...]
Research Project Overview
Larry’s research explores the global and country/culture-specific risk and protective factors of problem gambling in Nigeria. The research seeks to document the contributory and protective factors in problem gambling severity in Nigeria, thereby enriching the gambling literature with data from a culture outside the industrialised, educated, and democratic (WEIRD) societies.
The research is aimed at improving citizens’ mental health and quality of life by providing guidance for therapy and intervention. The study advocates for a comprehensive prevention and treatment model, drawing on a comparative analysis of current situations in both developed and developing societies. Key outcomes include enhancing public health policies by integrating problem gambling strategies, addressing key risk and protective factors associated with problem gambling, and spurring further investigations into global and country-specific triggers and protectors of problem gambling in Nigeria.
Project Team
Project lead: Dr Larry Awo
Supervisors: Prof Zsolt Demetrovics (Primary Supervisor) and Andrea Czakó (Secondary Supervisor)
The significance of this research lies in its potential to address the growing concern of problem gambling and its associated mental harm in Nigeria. By investigating the risk (including availability and easy access to gambling platforms and erroneous cognitions) and protective (including social support, gambling literacy and positive play) factors of problem gambling in Nigeria, the study provides valuable insights that can inform both prevention and reduction of the negative effects of problem gambling in Nigeria including suicidality, mental harm, bankruptcy etc. Understanding problem gambling risk and protective factors is crucial to developing interventions that mitigate gambling and its adverse effects and improving mental health and quality of life for Nigerians.
Additionally, the research advocates for integrating findings into national health policies, aiming to enhance public awareness and support for those affected by problem gambling in Nigeria and other contexts.
Research methods
The research employs a mixed-method approach to achieve its aims through an English language cross-sectional study using online survey methods among Nigerians resident in Nigeria. Inclusion criteria, eligible participants were 18 years or older, had gambled in the past 12 months either online or in-person preceding the research, were Nigerian and residing in Nigeria, and understood English. To eliminate any potential confounders such as country level differences in gambling characteristics, the sample frame included at least one thousand (1000) Nigerians who are resident in Nigeria.
Data collection was through an online survey platform (Qualtrics). Data collection and the characteristics of the sample was continuously monitored to adhere to the inclusion criteria.
These surveys include validated scales to assess the problem gambling severity and its associated risk and protective factors.
In parallel, qualitative interviews are conducted with participants to gain deeper insights into their experiences and perceptions regarding problem gambling. This dual approach allows for a richer understanding of the cognitive risk factors and the broader social context influencing gambling behaviours. Data analysis involves statistical methods to quantify relationships between problem gambling and mental health outcomes, as well as thematic analysis of interview transcripts to identify recurring themes and insights. The integration of quantitative and qualitative findings provides a comprehensive understanding of the issue, informing effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Relevance to the wider community
The relevance of this research to the wider community is substantial, offering several key benefits. One of the primary contributions lies in raising awareness of problem gambling as a significant public health issue, particularly in Nigeria, where understanding and recognition of its key risk and protective factors and mental health implications are often limited. By illuminating the contributors, protectors and adverse effects of problem gambling, the research promotes informed community dialogue surrounding gambling behaviours and their consequences. Identifying risk and protective factors associated with problem gambling equip mental health professionals, educators, and community leaders with the necessary tools to implement targeted prevention and intervention strategies. This proactive approach facilitates the early identification of at-risk individuals, helping to reduce the prevalence of problem gambling and its associated mental health challenges.
Pathways to impact
Outcomes from the research can potentially create a platform to advocate for the integration of problem gambling prevention and treatment into national health policies, aligning with the United Nations’ health development goals. By highlighting the importance of addressing gambling-related issues within public health frameworks, the study contributes to a broader understanding of mental health challenges in Nigeria and other developing countries. The research also has the potential to spur further investigations in other countries while delving into the specific triggers, protectors and effects of problem gambling, encouraging a more comprehensive understanding of its impact on individuals and communities. Ultimately, by providing empirical evidence and practical recommendations, this study can enhance awareness and drive effective policy changes, thus reducing mental harm and improving the quality of life for those affected by problem gambling in Nigeria and beyond. Findings are disseminated through research seminars, scientific conference presentations, and peer-review journal publications.
Project-related outputs
Amazue, L. O., Awo, L, O., Agbo, A. A., Ekwe, C. N., & Ojiaku, M. C. (2021). Association of near-miss with two erroneous gambling cognitions and betting intention: evidence from Nigerian adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 37, 837-852.
Awo, L. O. (2024). Promoting adolescent safer gambling through self-referent counterfactual thinking and knowledge of probabilistic outcome. Journal of Gambling Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-024-10338-y.
Awo, L. O., & Amazue, L. O. (2022). Moderating influence of predictive control on the near-miss effect-gambling intention association in Nigerian polytechnic students. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 20, 2787–2798. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00548-5.
Awo, L. O., & Chukwuorji, J. C. (In print). Problem gambling and comorbid stressors: Examining the moderating role of responsible gambling messages. International Gambling Studies.
Brand, M., Wegmann, E., Stark, R., Müller, M., Wölfling, K., Robbins, T. W., & Potenza, M. N. (2019). The Interaction of person-affect-cognition-execution (I-PACE) model for addictive behaviors: Update, generalization to addictive behaviors beyond internet-use disorders, and specification of the process character of addictive behaviors. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 104, 1–10.
Criminal Code Act (1990). Laws of the Federation of Nigeria: Chapter 22. Government of Nigeria 2005. (https://www.commonlii.org/ng/legis/num_act/cca115/).
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