Whether it has its claws into a spouse, parent, young adult child, or other close member of the household, gambling addiction effects on family are numerous, potent, and potentially irreparable without intervention. In gaining clarity on what these consequences are, an individual struggling with gambling behavior and/or a loved one may be motivated to initiate a much needed conversation and subsequently take requisite steps towards healing. Below is a succinct summary of what the common negative outcomes are, complete with a call to action that can prevent further harm and repair those that have already manifested.
Concise Overview of the Negative Effects that Gambling Addiction Has on Family Households (and how to start healing)
Gambling Addiction Can Lead to Divorce
While associated in varying degrees with all of the gambling addiction effects on family laid out below, separation and divorce are among the most commonly reported consequences. Research shows that when both spouses exhibit problematic gambling behavior, divorce rates are significantly higher than in the general population at a rate of around 39.5%. The divorce rate runs dramatically higher up to 65% where one spouse has a gambling problem. For further insight into gambling and divorce, please reference the following article:
Problem Gambling and Divorce Rates
Gambling Addiction Can Lead to Abuse
Several studies have uncovered a prevalence of domestic and family violence (DFV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrated by individuals with a gambling problem. Not surprisingly, results vary across countries, samples, ganders, and types of abuse examined. For instance, in Australia, nearly 20% of moderate risk gamblers and low-risk gamblers reported perpetrating DFV over the reported year, which is more than double than that reported for non-problem gamblers. Meanwhile. estimates include 23% for lifetime perpetration in Canada, 9% perpetration among males in the United Kingdom, and 19% for females and 12% for males for past-year perpetration in the United States. Further, a recent meta-analysis of more than a dozen studies estimated that 37% of problem gamblers have perpetrated physical IPV. Clinical anger problems associated with gambling addiction have been implicated in much of the cases. For further insight into the latter, please reference the following article:
Gambling Anger, Mood Swings, and Irritability
Gambling Addiction Can Lead to Neglect
One of the primary symptoms of gambling addiction is a loss of interest in non-gambling activities in addition to a loss of engagement with people who the compromised gambler once focused joyous attention towards. This includes spouses, parents, siblings, and even children. While neglect of any household family member is concerning, the latter (children) is of particular concern because it can lay an unstable foundation for their own mental health and wellness. Further, neglect can place children in harm’s way. Just last week (at press) a Massachusetts mother reportedly left her baby in hot car outside of a casino to play slots, while in a recent Pennsylvania case a pair of parents left their child in a vehicle during freezing winter temperatures to do the same. News of this nature has become commonplace and is documented with alarming regularity.
Gambling Addiction Can Spread to Family Members
While molecular genetic research is inconclusive as to how genetics may or may not play a role in the hereditary nature of gambling addiction, studies do confirm that problem gambling can be “inherited”.
Observational learning is a big part of what can cause gambling addiction to “spread” from an habitual gambler to more impressionable members of the household. Early exposure to gambling and enabled adolescent gambling in a family household is absolutely linked to the development of gambling behavior as children mature. Interestingly, there appears to be a cross-gender association between parents and children. One study found that daughters are more likely to experience problem gambling by age 20 if they had fathers who exhibited problematic gambling behavior when they were adolescents. The same study found that sons are more likely to struggle with gambling at the same age (20) if they had mothers who exhibited problematic gambling behavior when they were children.
More conclusion connections may be found with respect to problem gambling comorbidities, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder which either have direct genetic connections or have genetic components.
As a leader in problem gambling support and treatment for families, Kindbridge has covered the hereditary nature of gambling addiction quite extensively. Please reference the following for further insight:
I Come from a Gambling Family, Should I Be Gambling Too?
Are You Enabling Your Children to Gamble in Your Own Home?
Gambling Addiction Can Lead to Household Poverty
This gambling addiction consequence on family surprises no one. Significant financial loss and debt associated with problematic casino gaming, horse/dog race wagering, lottery, and sports betting have a direct impact on family households. Lost financial resources can not only cause setbacks in plans for education and retirement, it can disrupt access to basic necessities, food, shelter, and lead to generational poverty if left unchecked. View the facts and figures via the link below:
Debt from Gambling | An American Mental Health Epidemic
How to Begin Healing
Considering the above gambling addiction effects on family, it becomes clear that intervention is required sooner rather than later. Kindbridge Behavioral Health facilitates household healing via the provision of individual, couples, and family counseling for problematic gambling behavior. This trifecta addresses the complex and interconnected layers of what a household collectively experiences, treating not just the process addiction, but cooccurring mental health concerns that members may also struggle with.
If you exhibit problem gambling behavior or are a loved one of someone who does, reach out right away to speak with a counselor who can help you initiate a larger conversation with impacted members of the household. Let’s begin the healing process, today.
Get a FREE Assessment and Get Help for Problem Gambling
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