Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

All Mixed Up Together: Women’s Experiences of Problem Gambling, Comorbidity and Co-occurring Complex Needs

  • Published:
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

While there has been minimal recent gendered gambling research conducted in Australia and elsewhere, there is some evidence to suggest that gender differences do exist in various ways including gambling motivations such as gambling used as a coping strategy to alleviate or ‘escape’ from stress and anxiety, help-seeking and prevalence of comorbidity. In this Australian qualitative study we explored the experiences and concerns of 20 women electronic gaming machine players through in-depth interviews. Ten women self-identified as recreational gamblers and 10 had received help for their gambling. We present findings as they relate to specific issues of comorbidity and complex needs. For the 10 women who had received gambling help the range of comorbid issues was extensive. Greater understandings of the range of complex issues often involved for women who gamble problematically will assist in the identification of moving from recreational to problem gambling and in the implementation of effective treatment strategies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antonetti, E., & Horn, M. (2001). Gambling the home away: A study of the impact of gambling on homelessness. Research report commissioned by Hanover Welfare Services. Melbourne: Hanover Welfare Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battersby, M., & Tolchard, B. (1996). The effect of treatment of pathological gamblers referred to a behavioural psychotherapy unit: II—Outcome of three kinds of behavioural intervention. In B. Tolchard (Ed.), Towards 2000: The future of gambling: Proceedings of the 7th annual conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies (pp. 219–227). Adelaide, South Australia.

  • Bicego, B. (2002). When a woman’s best friend is doing her harm, Paper presented at Expanding Our Horizons Conference, 2002, Sydney, NSW.

  • Blanco, C., Hasin, D., Petry, N., Stinso, S., & Grant, B. (2006). Sex differences in subclinical and DSM-IV pathological gambling: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychological Medicine, 36, 943–953.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blaszczynski, A., & Nower, L. (2002). A pathways model of problem and pathological gambling. Addiction, 97, 487–499.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boughton, R., & Falenchuk, O. (2007). Vulnerability and comorbidity factors of female problem gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23, 323–334.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charmaz, K. (2005). Grounded theory in the 21st century: Applications for advancing social justice studies. In N. Denzin & Y. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowling, S. (1998). Submission from the Women’s Electoral Lobby, Victoria, Productivity Commission into Australia’s gambling industries. Canberra: Australian Federal Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crisp, B., Thomas, S., Jackson, A., Smith, S., Borrell, J., Ho, W., et al. (2004). Not the same: a comparison of female and male clients seeking treatment from problem gambling counselling services. Journal of Gambling Studies, 20(3), 283–299.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cultural Perspectives. (2005). Research into health promotion and best practice services for indigenous communities. Melbourne: Office for Gaming and Racing, Victorian Government Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham-Williams, R. M., Cottler, L. B., Compton, W. M., Spitznagel, E. L., & Ben-Abdallah, A. (2000). Problem gambling and co-morbid psychiatric and substance use disorders among drug users recruited from treatment and community settings. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16, 347–376.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delfabbro, P. (2009). Australian gambling review, Fourth Edition (1992–2008). Adelaide: Independent Gambling Authority.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desai, R. A., & Potenza, M. N. (2008). Gender differences in the association between gambling problems and psychiatric disorders. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 43(3), 173–183.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N. (2009). Client characteristics associated with treatment attrition and outcome in female pathological gambling. Addiction Research and Theory, 16(6), 618–632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N., Smith, D., & Thomas, T. (2006). Treatment of female pathological gambling: efficacy of a cognitive-behavioural approach. Journal of Gambling Studies, 22, 355–372.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N., Smith, D., & Thomas, T. (2007a). A comparison of individual and group cognitive-behavioral treatment for female pathological gambling. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(9), 2192–2202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N., Smith, D., & Thomas, T. (2007b). A preliminary investigation of abstinence and controlled gambling as self-selected goals of treatment for female pathological gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23, 335–345.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dowling, N., Smith, D., & Thomas, T. (2007c). The family functioning of female pathological gamblers. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 7(1), 29–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferris, J., & Wynne, H. (2001). The Canadian Problem Gambling Index: Final Report [CPGI]. Ottawa: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flatau, P., Conroy, E., Clear, A., & Burns, L. (2010). The integration of homelessness, mental health and drug and alcohol services in Australia, Positioning Paper, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), August 2010, Western Australia Research Centre and UNSW-UWS Research Centre.

  • Getty, H. A., Watson, J., & Frisch, G. R. (2000). A comparison of depression and styles of coping in male and female GA members and controls. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16(4), 377–391.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, A. (2008). Co-morbidity of mental disorders and substance use: A brief guide for the primary care clinician. Report for Commonwealth of Australia, Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA), Adelaide: Clinical Services and Research.

  • Grant, J., & Potenza, M. (2004). Pathological gambling: A clinical guide to treatment. Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodgins, D. C., Currie, S. R., & el-Guebaly, N. (2001). Motivational enhancement and self-help treatments for problem gambling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 50–57.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hraba, J., & Lee, G. (1996). Gender, gambling and problem gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12, 83–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibanez, A., Blanco, C., Donahue, E., Lesieur, H. R., Perez de Castro, I., Fernandez-Piqueras, J., et al. (2001). Psychiatric comorbidity in pathological gamblers seeking treatment. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 1733–1735.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kofoed, L., Morgan, T., Buchkoski, J., & Carr, R. (1997). Dissociative experiences scale and MMPI-2 scores in video poker gamblers, other gamblers, and alcoholic controls. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 185, 58–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LaPlante, D. A., Nelson, S. E., LaBrie, R. A., & Shaffer, H. J. (2006). Men and women playing games: gender and the gambling preferences of Iowa Gambling Treatment Program participants. Journal of Gambling Studies, 22, 65–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Layder, D. (1998). Modern social theory: Key debates and new direction. London: UCL Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGowan, V. (2003). Counter-story, resistance and reconciliation in online narratives of women in recovery from problem gambling. International Gambling Studies, 3, 115–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMillen, J., Marshall, D., Murphy, L., Lorenzen, S., & Waugh, B. (2004). Help-seeking by problem gamblers, friends and families: A focus on gender and cultural groups. Acton: Gambling and Racing Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mental Health Council of Australia [MHCA]. (2009). Home truths: Mental health, housing and homelessness in Australia. Canberra: Mental Health Council of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mental Health Council of Australia [MHCA]. (2010). The impact of a sustained gender pay gap on the economy. Canberra: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Commonwealth Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, S. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Statement on Ethical Research [NSER]. (2007). National Health and Medical Council (NHMRC). Canberra: Commonwealth Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, S. E., LaPlante, D. A., LaBrie, R. A., & Shaffer, H. J. (2006). The proxy effect: gender and gambling problem trajectories of Iowa Gambling Treatment Program participants. Journal of Gambling Studies, 22, 221–240.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neuman, W. (2006). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petry, N. M., & Steinberg, K. L. (2005). Childhood maltreatment in males and females treatment-seeking pathological gamblers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 19, 226–229.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petry, N. M., Stinson, F. S., & Grant, B. F. (2005). Co-morbidity of DSM-IV pathological gambling and other psychiatric disorders: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 66, 564–574.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pierce, M., Wentzel, J., & Loughnan, T. (1997) Male gamblers/female gamblers—Mapping the differences. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 8th National Association of Gambling Studies Conference. Melbourne, Victoria,

  • Piquette-Tomei, N., Norman, E., Corbin Dwyer, S., & McCaslin, E. (2008). Group therapy for women problem gamblers: A space of their own. Journal of Gambling Issues, 22, December, (online). http://www.camh.net/egambling/issue22/pdfs/07Piquette-Tomei.pdf [accessed 12th August 2010].

  • Productivity Commission. (2010). Gambling: Inquiry Report, No. 50. Canberra, ACT, February: Australian Federal Government.

  • Puchta, C., & Potter, J. (2004). Qualitative social research. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulford, J., Bellringer, M., Abbott, M., Clarke, D., Hodgins, D., & Williams, J. (2009). Reasons for seeking help for a gambling problem: the experiences of gamblers who have sought specialist assistance and the perceptions of those who have not. Journal of Gambling Studies, 25, 19–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scannell, E., Quirk, M., Smith, K., Maddern, R., & Dickerson, M. (2000). Females’ coping styles and control over poker machine gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16(4), 417–432.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schull, S. (2002). Escape mechanism: Women, caretaking, and compulsive machine gambling. Berkley: University of California, Centre for Working Families, Department of Anthropology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, H., & Korn, D. (2002). Gambling and related mental disorders: a public health analysis. Annual Review of Public Health, 23, 171–212.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Specker, S. M., Carlson, G. A., Edmonson, K. M., Johnson, P. E., & Marcotte, M. (1996). Psychopathology in pathological gamblers seeking treatment. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12, 67–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Straus, A., & Corbin, J. (1999). Basics of qualitative research (2nd ed.). London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Surgey, D. (2000). Playing for time: Exploring the impacts of gambling on women. Melbourne: Department of Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, S., & Jackson, A. (2008). Risk and protective factors, depression and co-morbidities in problem gambling. Melbourne, Victoria: Report to beyondblue.

  • Thomas, S., & Moore, S. (2001). Do women gamble for the same reasons as men? In A. Blaszczynski et al. (Eds.), Sydney: Culture and the gambling phenomenon: Proceedings of the 7th Annual Conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies.

  • Tolchard, B., & Battersby, M. (1997). The effect of treatment of pathological gamblers referred to a behavioural psychotherapy unit: II—Outcome of three kinds of behavioural intervention. In B. Tolchard (Ed.), Towards 2000: The future of gambling. Proceedings of the 7th conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies (pp. 219–227). Adelaide: National Association for Gambling Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toneatto, T., Boughton, R., & Borsi, D. (2002). A comparison of male and female pathological gamblers. Ontario: Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

    Google Scholar 

  • United States National Centre for Responsible Gaming, and Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders. (2009). Call to action. Washington DC: National Centre for Responsible Gaming.

    Google Scholar 

  • Victorian Department of Justice. (2009). Problem gambling, community awareness and education strategy. Victorian Department of Justice, March 2009, Melbourne.

  • Westphal, J. R., & Johnson, L. J. (2003). Gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity and treatment-seeking among gamblers in treatment. eGambling: The Electronic Journal of Gambling Issues, 8 (on-line). http://www.camh.net/egambling/issue8/research/westphal-johnson/index.

  • Wolcott, H. (1994). Transforming qualitative data: Description, analysis and interpretation. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Gambling Education and Research, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia

    Louise Holdsworth, Elaine Nuske & Helen Breen

Authors
  1. Louise Holdsworth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elaine Nuske
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Helen Breen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Louise Holdsworth.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holdsworth, L., Nuske, E. & Breen, H. All Mixed Up Together: Women’s Experiences of Problem Gambling, Comorbidity and Co-occurring Complex Needs. Int J Ment Health Addiction 11, 315–328 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-012-9415-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-012-9415-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation