Family context and gambling addiction. Factors that determine its relationship

Abstract

The family has been seen traditionally as a collateral factor in the explanation of gambling addiction. BUt now a growing number of authors considerer family as a key piece of the explanation of the addictive behavior. The objective of this text is to show how famil becomes a factor that predispose, generate or maintain is addictive behavior. The method used in this research is qualitative, based in an exhaustive set of life history interviews. The main results of the research point to the fact that family is not ouly present in the génesis of addiction, but also plays a key role maintaining the addictive behavior. Finally, the conclusions show the devastating role that family institution plays either generating or facilitating addictive hevhavior.  In general we have shown how the family is not only present in the genesis of addiction, but just as it started and maintaining addictive behavior in the family.