Gambling Support Study: Understanding gambling harm experienced by female affected others
Date
2019
Authors
Paterson, Marisa
Whitty, Megan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ANU Centre for Social Research & Methods
Abstract
Despite policy makers, health professionals and researchers increasingly acknowledging the impact
of gambling-related harm on families and in community settings, problematic gambling behaviour is
still commonly understood and treated at an individual level (Productivity Commission 1999). A lack of
investigation into, and acknowledgment of, affected others' experiences can perpetuate both limited
treatment expertise and limited access to resources and support for this group. Consequently, affected
others are often left feeling isolated and unsupported (Krishnan & Orford 2002, Hodgins et al. 2007).
A growing body of literature reports on affected others. Studies have shown that partners of gamblers
experience high levels of personal distress (Kourgiantakis et al. 2013), and are at increased risk
of depression, anxiety and isolation (Wenzel et al. 2008). Such couples also have a higher risk of
experiencing significant relationship challenges (conflict and divorce) (Dowling et al. 2006).
Studies have also shown that women suffer disproportionately more harm (Salonen et al. 2016) and
report higher emotional impacts (Dowling et al. 2014) than their male counterparts. A Swedish study
found that women in such relationships experience more violence and take more sick days than the
population at large (Salonen et al. 2016). A recent Australian study investigating the characteristics and
help seeking of affected others recruited from Gambling Help Online reported that 89% of affected
others using online services are female (most often the partner) and under 35 years old , and that more
than half had found out about the gambling problem in the past 12 months (Rodda et al. 2017).
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Report (Commissioned)
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Open Access via publisher website
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DOI
Restricted until
2037-12-31