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Gambling-related harm as experienced by UK Armed Forces veterans and affected others: a thematic framework analysis
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Samantha Treacy ,
Alice Hoon ,
Simon Dymond
BMJ Military Health, Pages: military - 2025
Swansea University Authors:
Glen Dighton , Samantha Treacy , Alice Hoon , Simon Dymond
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© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY- NC 4.0) license.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1136/military-2025-003028
Abstract
Introduction Despite recognition of increased gambling vulnerability among military veterans, qualitative understanding of veterans’ lived experiences of gambling harms, including impacts on family members, remains limited. This study explores the gambling histories, service-related influences, psyc...
| Published in: | BMJ Military Health |
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| ISSN: | 2633-3767 2633-3775 |
| Published: |
BMJ
2025
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69959 |
| Abstract: |
Introduction Despite recognition of increased gambling vulnerability among military veterans, qualitative understanding of veterans’ lived experiences of gambling harms, including impacts on family members, remains limited. This study explores the gambling histories, service-related influences, psychosocial impacts and support-seeking behaviours of UK veterans and their affected family members.Methods Thematic framework analysis was conducted on semistructured interviews with six male veterans and three female family members recruited through social media and support settings. Participants were screened using the Problem Gambling Severity Index to confirm severity of gambling-related harm.Results Four primary themes were identified: gambling histories and trajectories, the role of the Armed Forces in gambling behaviour, psychosocial and financial impacts, and barriers and motivations for seeking support. Veterans’ gambling trajectories varied, with military life often seen to normalise gambling behaviours through accessibility, social reinforcement and stress-related coping mechanisms. Severe financial distress, relationship breakdowns, mental health issues and compromised trust characterised gambling’s psychosocial impacts. Key barriers to seeking support included stigma, pride, denial and insufficient tailored services. Conversely, family interventions and personal crises were crucial motivators driving veterans towards recovery.Conclusions This study highlights the profound and complex impacts of gambling-related harm among UK veterans and their families, emphasising military cultural factors and significant psychosocial consequences. Effective interventions must address both individual gambling behaviours and broader family dynamics. Greater availability of veteran-specific support services and stigma reduction could improve help-seeking. Future research should incorporate diverse samples, including female veterans and male family members, to enhance generalisability and intervention efficacy. |
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| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
The research described here formed part of a PhD studentship, which was funded by GambleAware (charity no. 1093910, registered in England—no. 4384279). |
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military |
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2025 |