NC Baseline Study of College Student Gambling Behavior and Problem Gambling Risk Grant uri icon

abstract

  • Several studies have shown that more research on college student gambling is needed . According to recent research, approximately six percent of U.S. college students have serious gambling problems. The need for more current studies however exists. There is some evidence that college-aged emerging adults may be at a higher risk for developing gambling disorder as well as have a high propensity for comorbidity of gambling with alcohol and/or drugs. Additionally, college students with gambling issues may face severe psychological difficulties, unmanageable debt, and leave or fail out of college. Campuses are generally ill-equipped for assisting students at-risk for gambling disorder. No study has been specifically done within North Carolina to see whether college students in the state are at the same, higher or lower risk for problem gambling behaviors. In order to assess college student gambling behaviors and problem gambling risk within the state, the research team proposes conducting a baseline study across the 17 University of North Carolina Campuses to better understand the current status of college student gambling within the state. The study is a baseline study, in that it is very likely due to prior legislative bills and the fast expansion of online casino and sports betting throughout the U.S., a follow-up study looking at college student gambling after increased legal avenues exist in the state would be valuable and proposed in the future. However, for this particular proposal, the goal is to fully understand NC college student gambling behavior.

date/time interval

  • September 2022 - March 2025