A Qualitative Exploration of Women's Experiences, Stigma, and Access to Care in Gaming Disorder

Article Article scientifique Article A Qualitative Exploration of Women's Experiences, Stigma, and Access to Care in Gaming Disorder eng 2026-06-15 author Martins Castro Cátia author Marino Röthlisberger Noelle Alicia 899992 author Zullino Daniele Fabio 649976 Département de psychiatrie (PSYAT) author Achab Sophia 0000-0002-3861-3297 712947 Département de psychiatrie (PSYAT) 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.12231 42290524 0924-9338 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-psychiatry/article/qualitative-exploration-of-womens-experiences-stigma-and-access-to-care-in-gaming-disorder/8D16F2DCF926823D29085AD8BF103A85 Background: Gaming Disorder (GD) is recognized by the WHO as a behavioral addiction, yet research remains predominantly men-centric. This study explores the experiences of women gamers, their perceptions of GD, and the barriers women face in accessing care. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven participants identifying as women (six cisgender women and one transgender woman) aged 21-26 years old, in France and Switzerland. Inductive reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify women's experiences of gaming behavior, stigma, and help-seeking. Results: Participants reported diverse gaming behaviors, with preferences for narrative-driven games (e.g., RPG, simulations). Stigma, lack of self-awareness, limited self-recognition of problematic gaming, and broader societal misconceptions emerged as significant barriers to recognising GD as a potential clinical issue warranting help-seeking. None had sought professional care for GD, citing gendered stereotypes and diagnostic biases as key deterrents. Conclusions: The study highlights the need for women-centred diagnostic tools, clinical approaches, targeted awareness campaigns, and flexible support systems for women with GD. Future research should prioritize larger, diverse samples and intersectional approaches. Keywords: Gaming Disorder Women Access to care Stigma Behavioral addiction Women's health Dewey 616.89 60 Département de psychiatrie 225 false be7070e6-6371-4438-9232-008099338a07 Centre collaborateur de l'OMS pour la Recherche et la Formation en Santé mentale 496 Abus de substances 834 European psychiatry ff00d69c-af6a-49dc-a0e5-1c7ad742b6df Article (Accepted version) Public a-qualitative-exploration-of-womens.pdf 770233 application/pdf CC BY-NC-ND-4.0 d5737287e5108995c67b8c8d37e8ac6a3dbb690a301cd8642c74e6e23ca318a0 openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de psychiatrie

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A Qualitative Exploration of Women's Experiences, Stigma, and Access to Care in Gaming Disorder	European psychiatry			2026	8	20

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Marino Röthlisberger, Noëlle

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