Gambling, social integration and sources of strain in cases of suicide: exploring police investigation reports

Abstract

In this qualitative sociological study we explore the significance of social integration and social strain in gambling suicides. There is evidence that gambling and suicidality are associated. Mental distress is common among people experiencing gambling harm. Indebtedness and financial losses are also associated with suicidality among people experiencing gambling harm. The significance of social factors and social context on gambling suicides is understudied. Social integration theory proposes that social ties, such as marriage, can protect people from suicide. Strain theory explains suicide by social factors causing strain. Our research question is: How are social integration and different sources of strain related to cases of gambling suicides? The data consists of police investigation reports of 21 suicide cases. The data was analyzed with thematic content analysis. The results show variation in the social integration and strain the deceased experienced before their deaths. None of the deceased were without social ties. The entanglement of different sources of strain was manifest. The results suggest that a typology consisting of four categories of suicide contexts can be distinguished by the respective strength of integration and the number of different strains. We conclude that gambling policy with a focus on harm prevention is also a matter of suicide prevention.

Keywords:

• Gambling
• suicide
• social integration
• strain theory
• sociology

Ethical Statement

The Ethical Review Board of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare approved the research protocol (THL/1825/6.02.01/2022). Before analysis, the documents were anonymized.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Helsinki, Finland, funded the study (appropriation under section 52 of the Lotteries Act).

Notes on contributors

Jani Selin

Jani Selin holds a PhD in sociology and has throughout his career studied the governance of addictions in contemporary societies. Recently Selin’s studies have focused on the politics of responsible gambling, the prevention of gambling problems, and gambling policy.

Kalle Lind

Kalle Lind has a PhD in sociology. He has been exploring the links between gambling and criminal behavior among the general population, prisoners, and participants in support programs. In his work he has also studied gambling modes, at-risk gambling, and affected others.