A research group at Chubu University revealed that college students with higher tendencies toward internet addiction face a higher risk of gambling problems. With access to online casinos spreading among young people, they emphasize the need to address internet addiction and gambling problems in an integrated manner. In addition, they sound a strong alarm that educating students about these dangers after entering university is too late, and that literacy regarding hidden internet problems should be taught to elementary, junior high, and high school students.
Associate Professor Saimi Yamamoto, who specializes in developmental health science, of the Department of Early Childhood Education, College of Contemporary Education, and Professor Morihiro Ito, who specializes in preventive medicine, of the Department of Lifelong Sports and Health Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences at Chubu University, conducted a survey in conjunction with university students' routine health examinations using international scales regarding internet addiction and gambling problems. Asking questions such as "Do you ever stay up late using the internet at the expense of sleep?" and "Have you ever been criticized by others for gambling?", they analyzed valid responses from 5,083 individuals. The breakdown of the 5,083 respondents included 3,482 male students and 1,601 female students.
As a result, both internet addiction and gambling problems were observed more frequently among male students, and internet addiction was more prominent among first- to third-year students than fourth-year students. The number of students with gambling experience reached 856, representing approximately one in six respondents. Among those with gambling experience, students categorized with a higher degree of internet addiction were more likely to face gambling problems.
Provided by Chubu University
Specifically, among students with gambling experience, approximately half, or 54.6 percent, were indicated to be in the "potential problem group" at risk of facing gambling-related issues in the future. Suspected " problem gambling" requiring intervention from experts or other third parties was confirmed in 14 individuals. This is a small number, but existence of students with the problem has been identified. The survey used a two-choice "yes/no" format and did not inquire about specific types of gambling.
Provided by Chubu University
Further detailed analysis of the survey revealed that students at high risk for internet addiction faced challenges in exercise habits, sleep, and diet. Nutritionally unbalanced meals are said to cause a decline in the function of the prefrontal cortex, which governs self-control in the brain, potentially leading to a "negative spiral." In terms of problem gambling, students whose parents had gambling problems were more likely to be classified into the problem group compared to those whose parents did not.
In recent years, gambling has become familiar to young people through "gacha" (drawing lots to obtain items in smartphone online games) and online casinos. As a relatively new form of gambling with rapid development speeds, there is a challenge that its mechanisms have not been comprehensively studied.
Accessing online casinos is subject to charges of simple gambling or habitual gambling under criminal law. The crime is established at the moment of placing a bet, not at the point of winning something. Furthermore, negative impacts cannot be denied, such as the potential to turn to other crimes out of desire for money to gamble. In addition, as the government advances Integrated Resort (IR) development, it suggests the necessity to comprehensively consider gambling problems and internet addiction.
Ito pointed out: "Upon entering university, students feel like enjoying their freedom. When seemingly legal gambling advertisements are displayed on smartphones, students feel overly confident that 'it's fine' even if the advertisements are actually dangerous. As the trend of 'personal responsibility' spreads, students whose sensitivity to risk is not yet fully developed are unlikely to notice the danger." He emphasized that, just as traffic safety classes are widely conducted in elementary and junior high schools, it is important to provide routine literacy education from the period when individuals first encounter the internet.
Yamamoto also stated: "Recently, opportunities for even elementary school students to perform learning activities such as 'writing characters' or 'looking up dictionaries' on tablets have been increasing. While the internet is convenient, is it not important to utilize it while understanding analog-specific values, such as the experience of not being able to immediately obtain answers, or the process of trial and error? Therefore, internet literacy education needs to enrich opportunities within ICT education at primary and secondary education stages to foster the ability to judge and utilize information independently and critically."
Based on this study, Ito and Yamamoto plan to conduct follow-up research over a longer time axis in the future while paying attention to ethical aspects such as privacy.
The results were published in the Swiss scientific journal Behavioral Sciences on May 8 and announced by Chubu University on May 26.
Original article was provided by the Science Portal and has been translated by Science Japan.