Economic abuse, defined as a pattern of control, exploitation or sabotage of money, finances and economic resources, has been a relatively ‘invisible’ form of IPV, but is now increasingly recognised. IPV has been defined as behaviour by an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, psychological, emotional or sexual harm. Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a pervasive public health problem, affecting approximately one in three women globally. Responding to the needs of women impacted by gambling related IPV requires both individual-level awareness and organisational support recommendations to strengthen service provision are provided. Importantly, service providers must recognise and address the many facets of each woman’s situation and the shame associated with resolving interdependent and complex issues. ConclusionĮffective service responses are dependent on understanding how problem gambling and IPV intersect. Tangible and instrumental supports, such as emergency accommodation and financial assistance, were also central to the recovery process.

The themes highlight the importance of recognising the intersectionality of gambling related IPV and supporting the person ‘at the centre of the service’. Three themes emerged from the data signifying or demonstrating strength-based responses: ‘Commitment to Integrated and Collaborative Responses’ ‘Therapeutic Support’ and ‘Instrumental Support’. To gain new insights into the service experiences of women impacted by gambling related IPV, interviews with 48 women with lived experience of IPV relating to a male partner’s gambling, and 24 women with lived experience of IPV relating to their own gambling were reanalysed using thematic analysis.

Qualitative, unstructured interviews were conducted for a larger study exploring the nature of the relationship between problem gambling and IPV. This paper explores positive experiences of help-seeking for gambling-related IPV in Australia by adopting a strengths-based research approach.

Despite the links between problem gambling and IPV, little is known about women’s experiences of using support services for both IPV and gambling related issues. Women experiencing both gambling harm and IPV often find themselves in challenging situations furthermore, stigma and shame frequently act as barriers to seeking help from health and social service agencies. While problem gambling does not directly cause intimate partner violence (IPV), it exacerbates that violence significantly.

Move wife has a gambling problem