The role of social rejection and trauma in homosexual women with gambling problems

Recent studies have shown greater vulnerability to mental health problems and addictive behaviors among LGBTQ+ populations, particularly women, due to stigma, discrimination, and sexual minority stress. Within this context, it is crucial to investigate the specific features of gambling disorder in homosexual women, a group largely underrepresented in gambling research. This qualitative study explores the characteristics of gambling disorder in homosexual women through four focus groups, one individual interview, and three life narratives, involving six participants in total. Thematic analysis focused on gambling types, triggering factors, perceived social support, sexuality, and emerging psychosocial dynamics. Findings reveal life trajectories shaped by emotional isolation, rejection, and ambivalent family relationships, with possible comorbidity with other psychological disorders. The gambling behavior among participants involved games with a mild strategic component, more typical in men, but primarily served as an emotional escape, consistent with female gambling patterns. This took place in contexts of low emotion regulation and trauma histories. The results highlight the need for clinical interventions that are sensitive to gender, sexual orientation and emotional background, ensuring more inclusive, ethical and tailored care for women with gambling disorder.