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> Horch (S19)
PRIVATE STIGMA OF DISORDERED GAMBLING
Project Approved 2008-09
Ms. Jenny Horch
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
Dr. David C. Hodgins
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
The present investigation aims to examine the impact of self-stigma on problem gamblers’ cognition, affect, and behaviour, and in particular, how these relate to treatment seeking. Stigma refers to the devaluation of a person in a particular social context based on the perceived presence of a negative attribute or social identity and has been conceptualized as four-part process; including cues, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Furthermore, stigma researchers have differentiated between public stigma (stigma held by the general public) and private or self-stigma (internalization and application of public stigma to the self). Previous research has determined that problem gamblers are subject to public stigma. Both the general public and problem gamblers perceive stigma associated with problem gambling, and problem gamblers report stigma as a major motive for treatment avoidance and delay. However, there has been no research to date examining self-stigma in problem gamblers. The examination of this construct is particularly important as only one in ten problem gamblers seek treatment and self-stigma has been found to mediate the relationship between public stigma and treatment seeking in the general mental illness stigma literature. As such, this investigation aims to explore the existence of self-stigma in self-identified problem gambling population and to examine its impact on affective and behavioural outcomes. Understanding the impact of self-stigma on problem gamblers will aid in the development of strategies designed to engage more individuals in treatment.
Status (Complete)
Data was collected from 159 participants and is complete. Objectives for the period April, 2010 – October, 2010 were to continue fine tuning analyses and create a draft of the paper. Some analyses have been completed and a draft is underway. Presentation of the final results is expected for the Canadian Psychological Association’s annual conference June 2011. Manuscript preparation is ongoing and the project will be defended as part of a dissertation August 2011.
Last Updated: 02/09/11
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