How are the causes of gambling harm conceptualised by people who gamble?

ConclusionsGambling is still viewed by people who gamble as an issue of individual behaviour and addiction among a stigmatised sub-group of gamblers. The broader determinants of harm were generally not identified as causes of harm. This suggests the shift towards public health understandings of harm has not extended to the public. There are discrepancies between how the general public understands gambling harm and how it has been conceptualised by experts. Public health messages need to be reconsidered so they are relevant to and understood by the general community. Strategies to shift public understandings of harm also need to be identified.Key messagesPeople who gamble understand gambling harm differently to how it has been conceptualised by experts. This has implications for how harm should be communicated in public health strategies.This study demonstrates the benefits of collecting qualitative data through online surveys.
Source: The European Journal of Public Health - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research