parenting as a partner of someone who gambles v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The process of parenting as a concerned significant other of someone who engages in harmful gambling: A grounded theory study
IRAS ID
354446
Contact name
Melissa Brown
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
DClinPsychol/2023/MelissaBrown/2, Sponsor's number (box above not big enough)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 29 days
Research summary
Research suggests that concerned significant others (CSOs) of those who engage in harmful gambling suffer mental and physical ill health related to their partner’s gambling. CSOs face unique parental pressures as the loneliness and isolation they face can leave them feeling as though they are the sole parent in the family. There is a lack of current research investigating how CSOs navigate their parental role. This is despite previous research indicating that increased parental pressures are a large part of the increased stress that CSOs face when their partners gamble. Understanding how CSOs try to manage the difficulties they face when parenting could have important treatment implications for CSOs who seek mental health support.
The study aims to create a grounded theory of the process and experience of parenting in the context of being in a relationship with a partner who engages in harmful gambling. It will involve recruiting 10-15 participants who are currently in a relationship and co-parenting children between the ages of 0 and 17 with someone who engages in harmful gambling, or who have been in such a relationship in the last two years. Each participant will be invited to either one or two interviews which will last up to an hour each. Interviews will take place either at an NHS site or will be conducted remotely, via video call. The interview will involve asking participants questions about their experiences of parenting whilst being in a relationship with someone who engages in harmful gambling. Participants will be recruited from services connected to the NHS National Gambling Clinic. If recruitment from this avenue is limited, recruitment may be expanded to other NHS trusts and/or services such as the NHS East of England Gambling Service and/or registered gambling charities such as GamFam.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0265
Date of REC Opinion
24 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion