1. 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

2. 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

3. Our research

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Group
discussion

13. 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)?

14. 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), doi: /
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: /
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), doi: /j 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), doi: /s
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