A qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel
Abstract Background Military personnel (both currently serving and veterans) are vulnerable to harm from gambling, yet many are reluctant to seek help. The aims of this study were to explore the lived experience of gambling and gambling harm in currently serving members of the UK Armed Forces and to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Discover Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-025-00357-0 |
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| author | Hannah Champion Blair Biggar Matthew Jones Justyn Larcombe Matt Fossey Simon Dymond |
| author_facet | Hannah Champion Blair Biggar Matthew Jones Justyn Larcombe Matt Fossey Simon Dymond |
| author_sort | Hannah Champion |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Military personnel (both currently serving and veterans) are vulnerable to harm from gambling, yet many are reluctant to seek help. The aims of this study were to explore the lived experience of gambling and gambling harm in currently serving members of the UK Armed Forces and to seek to improve military-specific gambling harm information and support. Methods Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with self-selected currently serving personnel from the UK Armed Forces. Interview questions focus on lived experience of gambling harm, motivators and triggers around gambling, and awareness of gambling information and support. Results Thematic analysis identified four main themes: (1) sociocultural pathways to gambling harm; (2) influencing factors unique to military life; (3) obstacles to early intervention and support; and (4) facilitators of help and support. Conclusions Findings showed that the nature and extent of gambling harm within the UK Armed Forces may not be fully acknowledged, and that currently serving personnel face barriers accessing safer gambling information and support. Specifically, there was a lack of education around the nature of gambling harm, identifying it, how to go about seeking help, and from whom. The normalisation of potentially harmful behaviour, stigmatising attitudes, and concerns around anonymity serve as further barriers to help-seeking. There is a need to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and enhance support for gambling harm within the UK Armed Forces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b6f5bd398c8b4fc19343c03685608ec8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-4537 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6f5bd398c8b4fc19343c03685608ec82025-08-20T03:53:58ZengSpringerDiscover Psychology2731-45372025-05-015111810.1007/s44202-025-00357-0A qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among United Kingdom Armed Forces personnelHannah Champion0Blair Biggar1Matthew Jones2Justyn Larcombe3Matt Fossey4Simon Dymond5Centre for Military Gambling Research, School of Psychology, Swansea UniversityCentre for Military Gambling Research, School of Psychology, Swansea UniversityCentre for Military Gambling Research, School of Psychology, Swansea UniversityThe Recovery CourseVeterans’ and Families Institute for Military Social Research, Anglia Ruskin UniversityCentre for Military Gambling Research, School of Psychology, Swansea UniversityAbstract Background Military personnel (both currently serving and veterans) are vulnerable to harm from gambling, yet many are reluctant to seek help. The aims of this study were to explore the lived experience of gambling and gambling harm in currently serving members of the UK Armed Forces and to seek to improve military-specific gambling harm information and support. Methods Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with self-selected currently serving personnel from the UK Armed Forces. Interview questions focus on lived experience of gambling harm, motivators and triggers around gambling, and awareness of gambling information and support. Results Thematic analysis identified four main themes: (1) sociocultural pathways to gambling harm; (2) influencing factors unique to military life; (3) obstacles to early intervention and support; and (4) facilitators of help and support. Conclusions Findings showed that the nature and extent of gambling harm within the UK Armed Forces may not be fully acknowledged, and that currently serving personnel face barriers accessing safer gambling information and support. Specifically, there was a lack of education around the nature of gambling harm, identifying it, how to go about seeking help, and from whom. The normalisation of potentially harmful behaviour, stigmatising attitudes, and concerns around anonymity serve as further barriers to help-seeking. There is a need to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and enhance support for gambling harm within the UK Armed Forces.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-025-00357-0Military personnelGamblingHarmHelpSupport |
| spellingShingle | Hannah Champion Blair Biggar Matthew Jones Justyn Larcombe Matt Fossey Simon Dymond A qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel Discover Psychology Military personnel Gambling Harm Help Support |
| title | A qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel |
| title_full | A qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel |
| title_fullStr | A qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel |
| title_full_unstemmed | A qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel |
| title_short | A qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel |
| title_sort | qualitative analysis of the experience of gambling harm and accessing support among united kingdom armed forces personnel |
| topic | Military personnel Gambling Harm Help Support |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-025-00357-0 |
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