A Dual Analysis of Understanding Lived Experiences of Gamblers Overcoming Harm:
Session Title
Treatment: Peer Support & Community
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation
Start Date
28-5-2026 12:00 AM
Abstract
Problem gambling (referred to as Gambling Disorder in the DSM-5) carries serious social, financial, and emotional consequences, yet we know relatively little about how people actually experience recovery. This qualitative study analyzes in-depth interviews with 33 U.S. participants who self-identified as recovered or in recovery and were using Gamban, a gambling-blocking software. Guided by the cognitive-behavioral model of addiction, the transtheoretical model of change, and self-determination theory, we examined how psychological, motivational, and social factors come together in day-to-day recovery. Our analysis included both sentiment and thematic analysis with NVivo and ChatGPT. Results show that participants spoke of intense negative emotions around previous gambling (shame, loss, and harm), and these were coupled with a guarded hope around recovery, resilience, self-regulation, and reconnection with others. Participants were often critical of “responsible gambling” messaging. They emphasized the importance of emotional support, practical measures to prevent gambling (such as blocking tools and financial controls), and feeling more empowered in one’s own choices. Further, we identified gendered patterns to themes, with men more likely to reference formal systems of accountability (e.g., GA, financial limits) and women more likely to reference emotional processing and coping skills. Such findings have substantial implications for both the industry and regulators.
A Dual Analysis of Understanding Lived Experiences of Gamblers Overcoming Harm:
Problem gambling (referred to as Gambling Disorder in the DSM-5) carries serious social, financial, and emotional consequences, yet we know relatively little about how people actually experience recovery. This qualitative study analyzes in-depth interviews with 33 U.S. participants who self-identified as recovered or in recovery and were using Gamban, a gambling-blocking software. Guided by the cognitive-behavioral model of addiction, the transtheoretical model of change, and self-determination theory, we examined how psychological, motivational, and social factors come together in day-to-day recovery. Our analysis included both sentiment and thematic analysis with NVivo and ChatGPT. Results show that participants spoke of intense negative emotions around previous gambling (shame, loss, and harm), and these were coupled with a guarded hope around recovery, resilience, self-regulation, and reconnection with others. Participants were often critical of “responsible gambling” messaging. They emphasized the importance of emotional support, practical measures to prevent gambling (such as blocking tools and financial controls), and feeling more empowered in one’s own choices. Further, we identified gendered patterns to themes, with men more likely to reference formal systems of accountability (e.g., GA, financial limits) and women more likely to reference emotional processing and coping skills. Such findings have substantial implications for both the industry and regulators.