Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

For Worse, for Poorer and in Ill Health: How Women Experience, Understand and Respond to a Partner’s Gambling Problems

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

Abstract

Gambling is now big business in Australia and public expenditure on gambling is high. Some individuals gamble to excess with adverse consequences for themselves and their partner. The present study targeted women who had concerns about a current or previous partner’s gambling and employed a qualitative methodology to explore their experiences, understandings and responses. Various recruitment strategies were used to avoid an excessive reliance on a clinical sample and to attract participants in different walks of life. The final sample comprised twenty-three women, eleven of whom continued to maintain a marital or de facto relationship with the gambler. Data were gathered by means of in-depth interviews and subjected to thematic analysis. Findings from the study indicate that women are likely to be the victims and enablers of their partner’s gambling and may also provide informal help and care. Implications for community education programs, formal services and Australian law are discussed.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott, D. A., Cramer, S. L., & Sherrets, S. D. (1995). Pathological gambling and the family-practice implications. Families in Society, 76(4), 213–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbott, M. W., & Volberg, R. A. (1999). Gambling and problem gambling in the community: an international overview and critique. Report Number 1 of the New Zealand Gaming Survey. Accessed 23 Oct 2006: http://www.stv.govt.nz/Pubforms.nsf/URL/report1.pdf.

  • American Gambling National Impact Study Commission Final Report (1999). Accessed 4 March 2008: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=-p7ZF9KW8-MC&pg=PA48&dq=a.. Australian Yearbook 2008. Accessed 5 March 2008: www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/1301.0.

  • Benner, P. E. (1984). Stress and satisfaction on the job. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brading, R. Collateral damage: How the legal system has failed families of problem gamblers. Wesley Community Legal Service, 15 Belvoir St., Surry Hills, NSW, 2010.

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol, 3, 77–101. doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C., Ellard, J. H., & Smith, D. A. (1990). Social support, interdependence, and the dilemmas of helping. In B. R. Sarason, I. G. Sarason, & G. R. Pierce (Eds.), Social support: An interactional view (pp. 129–149). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig, L. (2006). Does father care mean fathers share. Gender and Society, 20(2), 259–281. doi:10.1177/0891243205285212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darbyshire, P., Oster, C., & Carrig, H. (2001). The experience of pervasive loss: children and young people living in a family where parental gambling is a problem. Journal of Gambling Studies, 17(1), 23–45. doi:10.1023/A:1014536315167.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson-Swift, V. A., James, E. L., & Kippen, S. (2005). The experiences of living with a problem gambler: Spouses and partners speak out, Journal of Gambling Issues, 13. Accessed 5 May 2007: http://www.camh.net/egambling/issue13/jgi_13_dicksonSwift.html.

  • Grant Kalischuk, R., & Cardwell, K. (2004). Problem gambling and its impact on families. Final Report submitted to the Albert Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC). Edmonton, AB. Accessed 7 Sept 2006: http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=cache:P4SVdvWYr8QJ: corp.aadac.

  • Grant Kalischuk, R., Nowatzki, N., Cardwell, K., Klein, K., & Solowoniuk, J. (2006). Problem gambling and its impact on families: a literature review. International Gambling Studies, 6(1), 31–60. doi:10.1080/14459790600644176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heineman, M. (1987). A comparison: the treatment of wives of alcoholics with the treatment of wives of pathological gamblers. Journal of Gambling Behaviour, 3(1), 27–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgins, D. C., & el-Guebaly, N. (2000). Natural and treatment-assisted recovery from gambling problems: a comparison and resolved and active gamblers. Addiction, 95, 777–789. doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2000.95577713.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan, M., & Orford, J. (2002). Gambling and the family: from the stress-coping-support perspective. International Gambling Studies, 2, 61–83. doi:10.1080/14459790208732300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamke, P. A. (1997). A conceptual approach to understanding abused women’s stay/leave decisions. Journal of Family Issues, 18(3), 290–314. doi:10.1177/019251397018003004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lesieur, H. R. (1996). Costs and treatment of pathological gambling. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 556, 153–171. doi:10.1177/0002716298556001012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, B., Goodman, L., Tummala-Narra, P., & Weintraub, S. (2005). A theoretical framework for understanding help-seeking processes among survivors of intimate partner violence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 36(1/2), 71–84. doi:10.1007/s10464-005-6233-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, V. C. (1987). Family dynamics of pathological gamblers. In T. Galski (Ed.), The handbook of pathological gambling (pp. 77–88). Springfield 11: Charles C. Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, V. C., & Shuttlesworth, D. (1983). The impact of pathological gambling on the spouse of the gambler. Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 67–76. doi:10.1002/1520-6629(198301)11:1<67::AID-JCOP2290110107>3.0.CO;2-O.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, V. C., & Yaffee, R. A. (1989). Pathological gamblers and their spouses: problems in interaction. Journal of Gambling Behavior, 5(2), 113–126. doi:10.1007/BF01019758.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marlatt, G. A., & Gordon, J. (1985). In Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviours. New York: Guilford.

  • Moos, R. H. (1994). Treated or untreated, an addiction is not an island unto itself. Addiction, 89(5), 507–510. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1994.tb03315.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, L. (2005). Quality part-time work—‘it shouldn’t be so hard!’ Background Paper presented at Families Matter, 9th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, 9-11 February. Accessed 13 March 2008: www.aifs.gov.au/institute/afrc9/morgan.rtf.

  • Morrow, S. (2005). Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 250–260. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orford, J. (1994). Empowering family and friends: a new approach to the secondary prevention of addiction. Drug and Alcohol Review, 13, 417–429. doi:10.1080/09595239400185551.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patford, J. (2007). For poorer: how men experience, understand and respond to problematic aspects of a partner’s gambling. Gambl Res, 19(1&2), 7–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polkinghorne, D. E. (2005). Language and meaning: data collection in qualitative research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 2, 137–145. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponterotto, J. G. (2005). Qualitative research in counseling psychology: a primer on research paradigms and philosophy of science. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 126–136. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Productivity Commission (1999). Australia’s gambling industries Report No.10, AusInfo, Canberra.

  • Rychtarik, R. G., & McGillicuddy, N. B. (2006). Preliminary evaluation of a coping skills training program for those with a pathological gambling partner. Journal of Gambling Studies, 22, 165–178. doi:10.1007/s10899-006-9008-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarantakos, S. (1994). Social research. Melbourne: MacMillan Education Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S. (2006). Managing and controlling money in marriage. Accessed 26/2/08: http://madeinatlantis.com/smartshopping/managing_money_marriage_.htm.

  • Singh, S. & Cabraal, A. (2006). Women, money and the bank. Paper presented to the Financial Literacy, Banking and Identity Conference, RMIT University, Melbourne, 25-26 October 2006.

  • Sparkes, A. C. (1998). Validity in qualitative inquiry and the problem of criteria: implications for sport psychology. The Sport Psychologist, 12, 363–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Velleman, R., Bennett, G., Miller, T., Orford, J., Rigby, K., & Tod, A. (1993). The families of problem drug users: a study of 50 close relatives. Addiction, 88(9), 1281–1289.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tasmania of Launceston, Launceston, TAS, Australia

    Janet Patford

Authors
  1. Janet Patford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Janet Patford.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Patford, J. For Worse, for Poorer and in Ill Health: How Women Experience, Understand and Respond to a Partner’s Gambling Problems. Int J Ment Health Addiction 7, 177–189 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-008-9173-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-008-9173-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation