Motivators for Seeking GamblingRelated Treatment

Authors: Helen Suurvali David C Hodgins Tony Toneatto John A Cunningham

Publish Date: 2011/09/20

Volume: 28, Issue: 2, Pages: 273-296

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Abstract

A random digit dialing telephone survey was used to interview 8467 adults in Ontario Canada The NODSCLiP was used to identify a representative sample of 730 gamblers 543 male mean age 453 years with possible past year gambling problems in order to explore factors that might affect disordered gamblers’ motivators for seeking gamblingrelated help A final sample of 526 gamblers provided useable data on possible reasons for and barriers to seeking help awareness of services selfperception of gambling problems and experience with helpseeking Financial and relationship issues were the most frequently volunteered motivators However over twothirds of the respondents could not think of a reason for seeking help Gamblers who had selfadmitted or more severe problems who knew how to get help who were employed and had more education and who identified possible barriers to seeking help were more likely to suggest motivators especially financial ones More research is recommended on gamblers’ trajectory towards recognition of a gambling problem the process of overcoming specific barriers to treatment and the role of social advantage eg education and employment in order to devise educational campaigns that will encourage earlier helpseeking among disordered gamblersThis research was supported by the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre Guelph Ontario In addition support to CAMH for salary of scientists and infrastructure has been provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care The telephone interviews in this study were conducted by staff of the Institute of Social Research York University Toronto Ontario

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