Stigma and Purpose in Life in Gambling Disorder: A Mixed-Methods Study With a Gender Perspective.

Gambling disorder carries a heavy burden of social stigma that severely impacts recovery and psychological well-being. However, the intersection between discrimination, existential meaning and gender roles within clinical populations remains insufficiently explored. This study analyzed the relationship between perceived stigma and Purpose in Life within a gambling population, adopting a gender perspective, to examine structural asymmetries. Using a mixed-methods design, the study integrates quantitative measures (N = 79; 24.1% women) with qualitative narratives (N = 113; 31% women) from 12 foc