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A qualitative investigation on Hong Kong pathological gamblers' perception of life change after receiving counselling service
Author(s)
Date Issued
2015
Publisher
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Shue Yan University
Description
Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Dept. of Counselling and Psychology.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.) -- Hong Kong Shue Yan University, 2015.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-76).
114 p.
Type
Thesis
Programme
Master of Social Sciences in Counselling Psychology
Abstract
Local research demonstrated the increase of gambling behaviours and the concerns of
early-onset engagement in gambling (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2011). Upon the beginning of Information Age, the practices of gambling have been becoming subtler and more complicated, as people can gamble through different channels (internet or mobile phones) rather within the traditional institutions (betting branches or casino). Past researches (Bonnaire, Bungener & Varescon, 2013; Rockloff, & Dyer, 2006) mainly focused on risk and protective factors analysis in the field of gambling studies. Those researches may not holistically explain the local complicated gambling issues. Hence, a qualitative investigation was conducted to explore the life of Hong Kong pathological gamblers before and after receiving the local problem gambling recovery services (including counselling service). Through the collaboration with Zion Social Service Yuk Lai Hin Counselling Centre, 8 current (male, N = 6; female, N = 2) and 4 ex-service (male, N = 3; female, N =1) users who had actively expressed their willingness to participate this study were invited for an in-depth semi-structural individual interview concerning their problematic gambling experience and recovery process. The interview data was analyzed by the grounded theory
approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1990) with adopting the thematic analysis (Braun &Clarke, 2006). Several themes related to the pathological gamblers’ life are found. First, the gamblers’ pathological stages (including incubation, derailment and desolation stages) are identified. Second, the perceived traumatic experience by the participants is recognized as the entrance of desolation stage. Third, two help-seeking patterns (active and passive) are distinguished and the contributing factors that led to different patterns are illustrated. Fourth, positive therapeutic elements (developing therapeutic alliance, establishing personal motives and gaining benefits from external resources) of the problem gambling recovery process are identified. Research implications on improving the pathological gambling treatment and gambling prevention are discussed.
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