Gender perspective in gambling disorder

Addictions affect both women and men and the existing differences are the result of a combination of biological, psychological and social elements. This article focuses particularly on gambling disorder. In this sense, behaviours such as gambling are influenced by gender, and therefore, it is necessary to introduce this perspective of analysis in order to understand the reality of women with behavioural addictions. It is also noted that, beyond prevalence data, precipitating factors, risk factors, age of onset, reasons for gambling, comorbidity, reasons for relapse, or associated negative consequences are different in women and men. Similarly, this article explores how some of the factors closely related to the gender malaise are involved in women’s behavioural addictions, such as social shame, self-stigma, loneliness, violence, trauma, care, responsibility, or guilt, which, in fact, are intrinsically associated with the figure of the woman. Finally, the need to incorporate the gender perspective and, more specifically, the needs of women, in research, prevention and intervention programmes on behavioural addictions is pointed out.