Browsing by Author "Leslie, Rashida Diandra"

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    An Investigation of the Relationship Between Gambling-Related Stigma and Help-Seeking Behaviours Among Online, Offline, and Mixed-Mode Disordered Gamblers
    (2022-09) Leslie, Rashida Diandra; McGrath, Daniel S.; Lee, Kibeom; Stea, Jonathan N.; Gibbs Van Brunschot, Erin
    Previous research has revealed differences in the experience of negative consequences and the likelihood of help-seeking relative to a gambler’s preferred mode of play (i.e., exclusively online, exclusively offline, and mixed-mode). Little research has identified and compared mixed-mode gamblers to exclusively online and offline gamblers, and although stigma has been recognized as a common barrier to seeking help for disordered gambling, there is a paucity of research that has examined the relationship between stigma and disordered gambling. Thus, the primary goal of the present study was to examine relationships between preferred gambling mode, gambling-related stigma, and help-seeking behaviours in a sample of disordered gamblers. A total of N = 517 disordered gamblers (n = 166 online gamblers, n = 171 offline gamblers, and n = 180 mixed-mode gamblers) completed measures related to their past six-month gambling behaviours, lifetime decision to seek help, endorsement of perceived and experienced stigma, and coping orientations toward gambling-related stigma. Results showed that (a) compared to offline gamblers, mixed-mode gamblers reported worse disordered gambling severity and a greater number of gambling-related harms; (b) the likelihood of lifetime help-seeking did not differ between groups; (c) among mixed-mode gamblers, secrecy and withdrawal coping orientations were negative and positive predictors of help-seeking, respectively; (d) a willingness to educate people about the realities of having gambling problems was predictive of help-seeking among offline gamblers; and (e) experienced stigma was a positive predictor of help-seeking, regardless of preferred gambling mode. Possible reasons for differences in help-seeking predictors and implications of this research are discussed.