Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41886003›Full record

SynthesisJournal of behavioral addictions2026

Gambling in women: A systematic review of interventions and prevention approaches.

Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé, Itxaso Cabrera-Gil, Estíbaliz Royuela-Colomer, Corel Mateo-Canedo, María Beltrán-Ruiz, Adrián Pérez-Aranda, Juan P Sanabria-Mazo, Yolanda López-Del-Hoyo

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of behavioral addictions, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Alicia Monreal-Bartolomé1Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion RD24/0005/0004 (RICAPPS), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2088-2007
Itxaso Cabrera-Gil2Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7657-026X
Estíbaliz Royuela-Colomer5Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9912-9610
Corel Mateo-Canedo7Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0620-9257
María Beltrán-Ruiz1Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion RD24/0005/0004 (RICAPPS), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0786-535X
Adrián Pérez-Aranda5Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1602-3413
Juan P Sanabria-Mazo6Center for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1688-435X
Yolanda López-Del-Hoyo1Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion RD24/0005/0004 (RICAPPS), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1690-4130

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Gambling disorder (GD) is a behavioral addiction with significant psychological, social, and economic consequences. Despite growing female participation and distinct gambling characteristics, research and interventions largely male-centered, overlooking women-specific factors. Objectives: This systematic review synthesizes evidence on prevention and treatment interventions for women with GD, assessing their effectiveness on gambling behaviors, cognitive and psychological outcomes, and identifying barriers related to access, adherence, and gender-sensitive design. Method: A systematic search in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (up to September 2025) identified quantitative studies reporting female-specific outcomes in gambling prevention or treatment. Study quality was appraised using National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute tools, and data on intervention characteristics, outcomes, and participant profiles were extracted. Results: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria (five prevention, thirteen treatment). Prevention programs, mostly universal and adolescent-focused, improved gambling knowledge, cognitive distortions, and short term gambling frequency; however, socioemotional effects were inconsistent. Only one study included follow-up assessment. Treatment studies, predominantly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based, reduced gambling severity and psychological distress, although dropout and relapse rates were higher among women with greater psychopathology or limited support. Person-centered approaches benefited of tailoring interventions to individual profiles. No studies systematically applied gender-sensitive frameworks or disaggregated outcomes by sex in prevention. Discussion and Conclusion: Prevention and treatment programs can benefit women, but standard interventions insufficiently address their unique needs. Gender-sensitive, individualized strategies, inclusion of socioemotional factors, and long-term evaluations are essential to enhance outcomes and inform inclusive public health policies.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyGamblingFemaleHumansSex Factorsgambling disordergender-sensitive interventionspreventionwomen

Identifiers

PMID41886003
PMCPMC13132401

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.