Comparing the consequences experienced by partners and other close family members of people with a gambling problem

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Author(s): Ferland, Francine ; Blanchette-Martin, Nadine ; Côté, Mélissa ; Tremblay, Joël ; Kairouz, Sylvia ; Nadeau, Louise ; Savard, Annie-Claude ; L’Espérance, Nadia ; Dufour, Magali

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2021

Date Added: August 31, 2021

In this study, the researchers compared the negative consequences experienced by partners and other loved ones of people who gamble. Interviews were conducted with 46 participants, including 25 partners, 8 adult children, 7 parents, and 6 siblings. The harms experienced depended on how close a person was financially and emotionally to the person with a gambling problem. For this reason, partners reported experiencing greater harms and for a longer duration. Partners reported more financial and emotional harms, relationship conflicts, health problems, and being a victim of theft or fraud. This research can be used to better understand how gambling negatively affects close family members depending on the nature of their relationship with the person who gambles.

Citation: Ferland, F., Blanchette-Martin, N., Côté, M., Tremblay, J., Kairouz, S., Nadeau, L., ... Dufour, M. (2021). Do the consequences experienced by the people in the life of a problem gambler differ based on the nature of their relationship with the gambler? Journal of Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-021-10058-7

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-021-10058-7

Keywords: children ; Concerned Significant Other (CSO) ; couple ; family impacts ; family relationships ; gambling-relared harm ; parents ; partners ; personal relationships ; problem gambling ; significant others

Topics: Family and Friends

Conceptual Framework Factors: Social - Family and Peer Gambling Involvement ; Social Factors

Study Design: Qualitative: Content Analysis

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Quebec

Study Population: N = 46 concerned family members of people with a gambling problem

Sampling Procedure: Convenience sampling – People with a gambling problem were first recruited from three public addiction rehabilitation centers. They provided the names and contact of three people in their life who experienced consequences because of their gambling. The research team then contacted these concerned significant others to take part in the study. One concerned significant other for each person with a gambling problem was interviewed.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the Fonds de recherche québécois: Société et Culture.