title: Reasons for seeking help for a gambling problem: the experiences of gamblers who have sought specialist assistance and the perceptions of those who have not.
abstract: This paper presents reasons for help-seeking data as reported by users of a national gambling helpline (help-seekers, HS, n = 125) as well as data pertaining to perceived reasons for seeking help as reported by gamblers recruited from the general population (non-help-seekers, NHS, n = 104). All data were collected via a structured, multi-modal survey. Participants in both groups considered help-seeking to be motivated by multiple factors (mean of 6.8 and 10.6 responses, respectively). Responses indicative of financial concern were most frequently reported by both HS and NHS participants (82 & 90%, respectively). Over a third of HS participants (35%) also identified financial concern as their primary reason for seeking help and 50% of NHS participants perceived financial concern to be the primary motivator for seeking help in a problem gambling context. Common types of secondary influence (other than financial concern) included psychological distress (HS & NHS participants), problem prevention (HS participants), rational thought (HS participants), physical health issues (HS participants), and relationship issues (NHS participants). The implications for promoting greater or earlier help-seeking activity amongst problem gamblers are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, National Institute for Public Health and Mental Health Research, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. justin.pulford@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pulford
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellringer
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hodgins
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires