A new look at the coping strategies used by the partners of pathological gamblers Mélissa Côté, ps.éd, Ph.D., candidate, UQTR, Canada Joël Tremblay, Ph.D., UQTR, Canada Addiction & the Family International Network (AFINetwork): 1st International Conference Friday 9th to Sunday 11th November 2018, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Current research The coping strategies used specifically by the partners of gamblers represent a still relatively unexplored field of research Four published studies (Krishnan & Orford 2002; Orford, Templeton, Velleman, Copello, 2005; Orford, Cousins, Smith, & Bowden-Jones, 2017; Patford, 2009), one research report (Casey & Halford, 2010), and one thesis (Patford, 2012) have looked at the coping strategies used by the partner of gamblers The majority of the coping strategies used by the partners were directed at the gambler in an attempt to influence his gambling behavior

Our research

Our research The partners used some 30 different coping strategies to cope with the gambling We identified ten new strategies: #11: Use gambling winnings so that there is no immediate reinforcement for the gambler #14: Try to reduce the sources of stress that push the gambler to go and gamble #17: Acknowledge the progress made, including that in treatment #21: Play down the severity of the gambling problem in the gambler’s eyes #28: Use gambling winnings to have some fun #1: Remind the gambler of the negative consequences his gambling is having #2: Make sarcastic or hurtful remarks about the gambler’s habits #3: Emphasize how positive the atmosphere is in the family and couple when he is not gambling #5; Remind the gambler of possible future negative consequences if he continues gambling #8: Attempt to convince the gambler to not give in to the desire to go and gamble right there and then

Our research These 30 strategies were grouped into 2 main goals: Reduce or completely stop the gambling behavior: 8 specific objectives 18 coping strategies Increase the wellbeing of the partner, couple, and family: 7 specific objectives 12 coping strategies

Table 1. Coping strategies whose main goal is to influence the gambler’s habits

reasons for becoming and remaining abstinent Specific Objective 1: Make the gambler aware of the negative effects of gambling and the reasons for becoming and remaining abstinent Strategy 1. Remind the gambler of the negative consequences his gambling is having Strategy 2. Make sarcastic or hurtful remarks about the gambler’s habits Strategy 3. Emphasize how positive the atmosphere is in the family and couple when he is not gambling Specific Objective 2: Try to convince the gambler that he should reduce and/or stop his gambling Strategy 4. Express one’s disagreement and ask the gambler to stop gambling Strategy 5. Remind the gambler of possible future negative consequences if he continues gambling Strategy 6. Communicate the distress one feels when confronted with the gambler’s habits Specific Objective 3: Learn the full extent of the person’s gambling behaviour Strategy 7. Look into the gambler’s recent gambling behaviour Specific Objective 4: Stop a gambling session from happening or put an end to one already underway Strategy 8. Attempt to convince the gambler to not give in to the desire to go and gamble right there and then Strategy 9. Try to stop the gambler during a gambling session

that is incompatible with gambling Specific Objective 5: Avoid reinforcing gambling behaviour Strategy 10. Disapprove of gambling winnings Strategy 11. Use gambling winnings so that there is no immediate reinforcement for the gambler Specific Objective 6: Help the gambler to avoid risky situations Strategy 12. Control the gambler’s access to money Strategy 13. Provide gambler with a safe context where there are no gambling temptations Strategy 14. Try to reduce the sources of stress that push the gambler to go and gamble Specific Objective 7: Help the gambler to begin and succeed in his treatment Strategy 15. Help the gambler to begin treatment Strategy 16. Participate in the gambler’s treatment Strategy 17. Acknowledge the progress made, including that in treatment Specific Objective 8: Help the person to develop behaviour that is incompatible with gambling Strategy 18. Suggest other activities than gambling

Table 2. Coping strategies whose main goal is to increase the personal well-being of the partner, couple and family

Specific Objective 10: Avoid couple conflicts Specific Objective 9: Protect the gambler’s, partner’s, and couple’s reputation, avoid worrying close family and friends, and avoid having to deal with their lack of understanding Strategy 19. Conceal the extent of the gambling behaviour from close family and friends who think the gambler has gambling problems Strategy 20. Completely conceal the gambler’s habits when close family and friends are not aware of his difficulties Specific Objective 10: Avoid couple conflicts Strategy 21. Play down the severity of the gambling problem in the gambler’s eyes Specific Objective 11: Reduce one’s personal suffering Strategy 22. Diminish, in her own mind, the severity of the gambling habits Strategy 23. Temporarily withdraw from the relationship when the gambler has gambled Strategy 24. Threat of a break-up Strategy 25. Find professional help for herself concerning the gambler’s problems Specific Objective 12: Decrease the financial strain on the family Strategy 26. Support the gambler financially Strategy 27. Compensate for the gambler’s inability to financially support the family Specific Objective 13: Spend quality time together as a couple and family Strategy 28. Use gambling winnings to have some fun Specific Objective 14: Try to genuinely understand the person’s apparently irrational gambling behaviour Strategy 29. Exhaustively question the gambler about his habits Specific Objective 15: Be loyal and helpful by taking care of the gambler Strategy 30. Allow the gambler to express his distress

Conclusion The sequence identified in Tables I and II, based on specific objectives reported by the partners, represents a coherent group of targets to attain when working with the partners Impact/Efficacy of each strategy on gambling behaviours and on the partners well-being Develop a new questionnaire

Group discussion

Group discussion How to continue research on the effectiveness of these strategies? Should our study be separated from coping strategies by subgroups of respondent (i.e., partner, parent, child)?

Casey, L. M., & Halford, K. (2010). A pilot study exploring value of a couple-based approach to the treatment of problem gambling. Queensland, Australia: Office of Regulatory Policy, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. Krishnan, M., & Orford, J. (2002). Gambling and the family: From the stress‐coping‐support Perspective. International Gambling Studies, 2(1), 61-83. doi: 10.1080/14459790208732300 Orford, J., Cousins, J., Smith, N., & Bowden-Jones, H. (2017). Stress, strain, coping and social support for affected family members attending the National Problem Gambling Clinic, London. International Gambling Studies, 17(2), 259–275. doi:10.1080/14459795.2017.1331251 Orford, J., Templeton, L., Velleman, R., & Copello, A. (2005). Family members of relatives with alcohol, drug and gambling problems: a set of standardized questionnaires for assessing stress, coping and strain. Addiction, 100(11), 1611-1624. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01178.x Patford, J. (2009). For Worse, for Poorer and in Ill Health: How Women Experience, Understand and Respond to a Partner’s Gambling Problems. International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 7(1), 177-189. doi: 10.1007/s11469-008-9173-1 Patford, J. (2012). For poorer: how men experience, understand and respond to problematic aspects of a partners gambling (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia