Exploring family members' experiences with and reasons for wanting online gambling treatment services

View Abstract View Snapshot Back to Search Results

snapshot summaries

Author(s): Rodda, Simone N. ; Dowling, Nicki A. ; Thomas, Anna C. ; Bagot, Kathleen L. ; Lubman, Dan I.

Journal: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Year Published: 2020

Date Added: March 25, 2021

This research explores families’ experiences with an online gambling treatment service and their reasons for wanting online help. The researchers surveyed 62 family members of people with problem gambling (PG) from an internet counselling service in Australia. The survey asked them why they decided to get online gambling help and what they expected to receive from online services. Half of the participants wanted gambler-focused treatment to better support their family member with PG. Almost one-third wanted family-focused treatment to have someone listen to their story and needs, to know more about support options, and to manage the impacts of PG. Some participants (22%) wanted a blend of both.

Citation: Rodda, S. N., Dowling, N. A., Thomas, A. C., Bagot, K. L., & Lubman, D. I. (2020). Treatment for family members of people experiencing gambling problems: Family members want both gambler-focused and family-focused options. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 18, 1318-1334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00143-9

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00143-9

Keywords: affected others ; Brief Intervention (BI) ; Concerned Significant Other (CSO) ; family ; Internet-based interventions ; problem gambling ; treatment

Topics: Family and Friends ; Gambling Resources ; Information for Treatment Providers

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological Factors ; Resources - Harm Reduction, Prevention, and Protection ; Psychological - Coping Styles ; Social - Family and Peer Gambling Involvement ; Resources - Service Access and Use ; Gambling Resources ; Resources - Interventions

Response Rate: 15.2% (62/407)

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Geographic Coverage: Australia

Study Population: Family members or friends of people with gambling problems who were accessing support from Gambling Help Online (N=62).

Sampling Procedure: Convenience sampling: The researchers recruited participants from an Australian internet counselling service for problem gambling, Gambling Help Online. Recruitment occurred between January 2014 and January 2015.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the Australian Gambling Research Centre at the Australian Institute of Family Studies in Australia.