Statistics and research release
Qualitative research on the consequences of gambling: follow-up interviews with participants from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain
Further work has been conducted to develop and test a series of survey questions aimed at collecting better data on the experience of gambling-related harms.
Summary
Also published recently
This report contains findings from research which aimed to provide a deeper understanding of people’s experiences of gambling. The research helps to inform Evidence theme 3 - Gambling-related harms and vulnerability, in which we aim to understand the different ways that consumers can experience harms.
This research was conducted by NatCen, with input from the Gambling Commission's Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP). LEAP members contributed to the development of the research materials and advised on approaches to ensure that interviews were conducted with sensitivity.
The report presents findings from 25 in-depth qualitative interviews with participants who took part in the GSGB and who had experienced severe and/or potentially adverse consequences from their own gambling in the past 12 months.
The main research objectives were to:
- explore the journeys that lead people to experience adverse and/or severe gambling consequences
- identify any external factors that may influence and/or contribute to adverse and/or severe gambling consequences
- understand how different adverse and/or severe gambling consequences are connected in people’s lived experience
- identify any measures and practices people use which may have prevented adverse and/or severe consequences from occurring.
Key facts
Gambling journeys were shaped by early experience
Participants’ journeys with adverse consequences from gambling varied, along with their wider life experiences. For some, their first contact with gambling was during childhood or adolescence, often starting with observing parents or other family members who gambled.
Financial impacts often led to further adverse consequences
Financial impacts were often the first negative consequence experienced, which frequently led to further impacts on mental health and relationships.
Participants experienced varied, non-linear patterns of gambling consequences
The journeys described by participants were not linear and varied in pattern. Some participants experienced progressive worsening of gambling consequences followed by improvements, whilst others experienced very little change with consequences over time.
Experiences of gambling were influenced by other external factors
Participants' journeys with gambling consequences were complex and influenced by various factors including employment status, childhood experiences, relationships, health conditions, and wider socio-economic factors.
Adverse consequences from gambling were often interrelated
Participants described a variety of ways that different consequences, such as financial, relationship and health and wellbeing consequences are interrelated. For some, one consequence led to another, while for others, the consequences fed into each other in an ongoing cycle.
Participants used a variety of strategies to help manage their gambling
Participants used various approaches to reduce negative consequences, including self-help tools offered by gambling operators, personal budgeting techniques, and support from friends and family.
Details
Full publication and key information
Publication produced by: National Centre for Social Research (NatCen)
Publication authors: Crescenzo Pinto, Robyn Bennetto, Imogen Martin, Claudia Nashef, Ioana Maxineanu, Katie Ridout, Dr Suzanne Hill, Dr Sokratis Dinos.
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