Researching A Holistic Framework for Measuring Harms and Recovery from Gambling
About the study
This research aims to develop a conceptual tool (framework) which describes the ways that gambling harms impact people, with a specific focus on the context of Great Britain. Gambling harms refer to the negative impact from gambling on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities, and society, which impact people’s resources, relationships and health. This can include financial harms and relationship harms.
This framework will help policymakers, healthcare professionals and charities who support people who experience gambling harms to understand who is impacted negatively by gambling, how to address the harms they may experience, and how to support their recovery.
GambleAware, an independent charity that provides support and information to help people make decisions about their gambling, have provided funding for us to develop this framework (in collaboration with the University of Plymouth, the University of Bristol and other partners).
Why take part and what will it involve?
NatCen (alongside research partners at the University of Plymouth and the University of Bristol) would like to interview people to understand their lived experience of recovery from gambling harms, including the experience of those who have been negatively affected by the gambling of a family member, friend or partner. Your experience will help us determine if our framework accurately captures people’s everyday lived experience of gambling harms and recovery, and support the further development of the framework.
Taking part will involve participating in an interview with a researcher from NatCen, the University of Plymouth or the University of Bristol. The interview will last up to 60 minutes and can take place using Microsoft Teams at a time and date convenient for you. With your permission, the interview will be audio recorded using secure and encrypted software, so that there is a detailed and accurate record of the conversation.
Key interview topics we will ask you about include:
- Your views on our initial framework of gambling harms and recovery;
- Your experiences with gambling (if applicable), including types of gambling activity and frequency;
- Any experience you have of different types of gambling harm;
- Your views (and any experiences) with recovery from gambling harms, including your experience of using treatment support services;
- How, if at all, your experiences of gambling harms (and recovery) relates to any other aspects of your identity or life experience.
As a thank you for your time, you will receive a £40 Love2Shop voucher which can be used at many high-street shops and can also be exchanged for gift cards for specific shops (Such as Asda, M&S, and Sainsbury’s). The voucher will be sent to you after completing or terminating the interview.
Why have I been selected to take part?
We are interested in speaking with people who have lived experience of gambling harms and recovery.
Is the discussion confidential?
Yes. The information you provide will be anonymised in all reports we write, so you cannot be identified. We will not share your details with GambleAware or anybody else outside of the research team. The only exception is if you talk about something which we believe puts you or another person at significant risk of harm. In that case, we will have to tell someone else at our workplace who will decide if we need to tell the relevant authorities. We will always try to discuss this with you first.
We will store your personal data securely in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This research has been approved by NatCen’s Research Ethics Committee and the University of Plymouth Faculty Research Ethics and Integrity Committee [Project ID 5525]. Your personal details and the interview data collected (included the recording of the interview, if you give us permission to record) will be deleted as soon as possible after the completion of the project, due in Autumn 2025.
> For more information about how we handle personal data, visit the privacy notice.
Do I have to take part?
Participation in the evaluation is entirely voluntary and if you agree to participate you are free to change your mind at any point before, during, and after the interview until we analyse the data. During the interview discussion, you are also free not to answer any questions you would prefer not to answer.
Who is carrying out the research?
NatCen, University of Plymouth, University of Bristol and other collaborators.
Who are NatCen?
Find out moreContact us
If you have any questions, would like to discuss the research or would like to take part, please contact us using the details below.
Email: understandinggrh@natcen.ac.uk
Phone: 0808 169 1224