How does the stigma of problem gambling influence help-seeking, treatment and recovery? a view from the counselling sector

Hing, Nerilee; Nuske, Elaine; Gainsbury, Sally; Russell, Alex; Breen, Helen

doi:10.1080/14459795.2016.1171888

Cited by 38 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(68 reference statements)

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“…An additional noteworthy point is that substances used by women have fundamentally anxiolytic functions, while men seek out elevating chemicals. This has a remarkable correspondence with motivations recorded in gambling research, that is, excitement and novelty seeking is common among men, as opposed to escape or distraction motives reported by women (Grant et al, 2012;Hing et al, 2016a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Gender differences in temporal relationships between gambling urge and cognitions in treatment-seeking adults

Dunsmuir

Smith

Fairweather‐Schmidt

et al. 2018

Psychiatry Research

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Many gambling-specific CBT programs seek to target either gambling-related urge or cognitions or both. However, little is known of the influence of one symptom type on another across time and whether these differ for men and women help-seeking problem gamblers. The aim of this study was threefold: to determine presence of measurement invariance for urge and cognition measures over time; to investigate the effect of baseline urge on end-of-treatment gambling-related cognitions - and the reciprocal relationship; and, identify whether these pathways differ across gender. Self-reported gambling urge (GUS), and gambling-related cognitions (GRCS) data from treatment-seeking problem gamblers prior to and post treatment (N = 223; 62% men) were analyzed with cross-lagged panel models, moderated by gender. Conceptualization of urge and cognitions were found to be temporally stable. There was no significant association between baseline GUS scores and post-treatment GRCS scores, nor the reverse relationship. Putatively, this infers that coexisting urge and gambling-related cognition components of problem gambling operate independently over time. Analyses revealed gambling urge had a significantly stronger tracking correlation across time for men than women when adjusting for cognition paths. This investigation provides early evidence for tailoring CBT in response to sub-population gambling-related characteristics, demonstrated across men and women.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Gender differences in temporal relationships between gambling urge and cognitions in treatment-seeking adults

Dunsmuir

Smith

Fairweather‐Schmidt

et al. 2018

Psychiatry Research

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“…It may be that they have less need to seek help or that some find self-exclusion from gambling websites adequate to maintain control over gambling. Alternatively, barriers to help seeking may be different for problem Internet gamblers than those found among problem land-based gamblers, such as stigma, shame, problem denial, a belief that one can handle the problem alone, and false hope in the ability to win back losses or regain control [ 19 , 61 - 65 ]. Research with representative samples is also needed to verify results obtained.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Internet Gamblers Based on Most Problematic Mode of Gambling

Hing¹,

Russell²,

Gainsbury³

et al. 2015

J Med Internet Res

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BackgroundPrevious studies of problem Internet gamblers have failed to distinguish whether their problem gambling relates to Internet or land-based gambling modes. Therefore, characteristics and help-seeking behaviors of people whose gambling problems relate specifically to Internet gambling are unknown, but could inform the optimal alignment of treatment and support services with the needs and preferences of problem gamblers.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare (1) characteristics of problem Internet gamblers and problem land-based gamblers and (2) uptake of different types and modes of help between problem Internet gamblers and problem land-based gamblers. Hypothesis 1 was that problem Internet gamblers are less likely to seek help. Hypothesis 2 was that problem Internet gamblers are more likely to use online modes of help.MethodsA sample of 620 respondents meeting criteria for problem gambling was drawn from an online survey of 4594 Australian gamblers. Respondents were recruited through advertisements on gambling and gambling help websites, Facebook, and Google. Measures consisted of gambling participation; proportion of gambling on the Internet; most problematic mode of gambling; help seeking from 11 different sources of formal help, informal help, and self-help for gambling problems; psychological distress (Kessler 6); problem gambling severity (Problem Gambling Severity Index, PGSI); and demographics.ResultsProblem Internet gamblers were significantly more likely than problem land-based gamblers to be male (χ2 1=28.3, P<.001, φ=0.21), younger (t 616.33=4.62, P<.001, d=0.37), have lower psychological distress (χ2 1=5.4, P=.02, φ=0.09), and experience problems with sports and race wagering (χ2 4=228.5, P<.001, φ=0.61). Uptake of help was significantly lower among problem Internet compared to problem land-based gamblers (χ2 1=6.9, P<.001, φ=0.11), including from face-to-face services, gambling helplines, online groups, self-exclusion from land-based venues, family or friends, and self-help strategies. Both problem Internet and problem land-based gamblers had similarly low use of online help. However, problem land-based gamblers (37.6%, 126/335) were significantly more likely to have sought land-based formal help compared to problem Internet gamblers (23.5%, 67/285; χ2 1=14.3, P<.001, φ=0.15).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that more targeted and innovative efforts may be needed to increase use of gambling help by problem Internet gamblers. Alternatively, their lower PGSI and K6 scores suggest Internet problem gamblers may have less need for gambling-related help. This is the first known study to classify problem Internet gamblers as those whose problem gambling specifically relates to Internet gambling. Further research is needed to better understand why help-seeking rates are lower among Internet problem gamblers.

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“…Wanting to avoid the distress of admitting one has a problem with their gambling or admitting that they need help with their gambling has been shown to discourage help seeking [28] [29] . Some suggest that control over the disclosure process offered through Internet based interventions may help increase involvement in problem gambling treatment [4].…”

Section: Principle Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internet-Based Interventions for Problem Gambling: Scoping Review (Preprint)

Maas¹,

Marshall²,

Hodgins³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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BackgroundThe rate of treatment seeking has been demonstrated to be low across several research environments. This is in part due to the systemic barriers that would be treatment seekers face to accessing traditional face-to-face treatment. Making problem gambling treatment resources available through the Internet is one way to reduce the impact of those systemic barriers. The use of Internet based resources to address problem gambling has been growing and a field of research evaluating it has developed as well. However, there has been little done to examine this growing field of research as a whole. ObjectiveTo collect and evaluate research on the use of Internet based intervention for problem gambling in order to provide an understanding of the current state of the field. A secondary objective of this study is to outline the advantages and challenges that are associated with addressing problem gambling using Internet based resources. MethodsA scoping review was performed of five peer-reviewed research data bases (PsychINFO, CINAHL, Medline, Social Science Abstracts and Scopus) and three grey literature databases (MedEdPortal, Proquest: dissertations and Opengrey). Article inclusion required to have been published in the last ten years (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017), include an intervention for problem gambling, and involve the use of the Internet to deliver that intervention. ResultsA total of 21 articles were found that met the review requirements. Studies were found from several different areas with particularly strong representation for Australia and New Zealand, and Scandinavia. Cognitive behavioural therapy was the most common form of internet based intervention. Internet based interventions we generally shown to be effective by the collected research in reducing problem gambling scores and gambling behaviours. Stated advantages include lower feelings of stigma, greater flexibility in time of treatment, and ease of access to relevant information. Stated disadvantages include ethical concerns related to clients in crisis and confidentiality, a lack of rapport in the client-provider relationship, and high rates of attrition. ConclusionInternet based interventions are a promising direction for treatment and prevention of problem gambling, particularly in reducing barrier to accessing professional help. The state of the current literature is sparse and more research is needed in directly comparing internet based interventions and their traditional counterparts.

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How does the stigma of problem gambling influence help-seeking, treatment and recovery? a view from the counselling sector

Cited by 38 publications

References 45 publications

Gender differences in temporal relationships between gambling urge and cognitions in treatment-seeking adults

Gender differences in temporal relationships between gambling urge and cognitions in treatment-seeking adults

Characteristics and Help-Seeking Behaviors of Internet Gamblers Based on Most Problematic Mode of Gambling

Internet-Based Interventions for Problem Gambling: Scoping Review (Preprint)

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