Mississippi study links student gambling to mental health issues

A study of 1,800 students across eight public universities in Mississippi has identified a significant link between gambling behaviors and mental health struggles. Published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, the research found that 25% of surveyed students had gambled, with 7% exhibiting signs of problem gambling.

Lead author Nicholas McAfee, director of the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education at the University of Mississippi, noted that nearly all students in the sample reported some level of mental health concern. The findings suggest that students dealing with gambling issues are often part of a demographic already facing widespread mental health challenges.

McAfee highlighted that while the data was collected in 2021, the landscape has evolved with the rise of prediction markets, which are often accessible to individuals under the age of 21. Researchers expressed concern that while access to gambling has increased, access to evidence-based care, treatment, and mental health intervention strategies has not kept pace.