Exploring the experience of Gamblers Anonymous meetings during COVID-19: a qualitative study

Whilst much research has explored the possible causes and consequences of gambling, Gamblers Anonymous (GA) − one of the most accessed forms of support for gamblers - has been largely overlooked and, to date, only a few studies have explored how members experience this programme. Core to GA is the social interaction between members. From March 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced GA to move their meetings online. The present qualitative study therefore explored how GA members experienced these online meetings in the absence of actual face to face interactions with others. Individual telephone or video call interviews (n = 21) were carried out with members of GA in the UK and analysed using Thematic Analysis. The results described three main themes: (1) ‘practicalities of GA in lockdown’, which highlighted the practical benefits of online meetings such as more opportunity to attend different meetings, which in turn expanded participants’ perspectives and social networks; (2) ‘the importance of relationships in GA’, reflecting strong and enduring social networks that were created, maintained, and strengthened by feelings of solidarity; and (3) ‘therapeutic elements of the meetings’, such as psychological contract making which helped participants to stay abstinent. Transcending these themes was a tension between individual versus group identity with interviewees reporting a shift to focusing more on their own needs rather than those of the group. Overall, whilst still providing a lifeline during COVID-19 and offering some practical benefits, the online GA meetings were not able to completely replicate the value individuals gained from face to face meetings. This transition also resulted in disruptions both to group dynamics and to individual interactions within each group, ultimately resulting in participants behaving more individualistically and less collectively than in face-to-face meetings.