Abstract

Recovery from gambling addiction is to change attitudes, beliefs and habits of life beyond stopping gambling, and spirituality functions as a core element of this process. Spirituality not only motivates recovery, but also helps to improve interpersonal relationships and maintain recovery. However, in the field of addiction, the concept of spirituality has not yet been clearly defined. This study examined the definition of spirituality from the perspective of East and West, and also examined the effects of spirituality on recovery based on the experiences of people recovering from gambling addiction. In addition, this study examined the specific spiritual interventions that can be applied to the early and maintenance periods of recovery. In the early recovery period, attending GA, living a life of faith, finding meaning and purpose of life, and loving-kindness and compassion meditation may be appropriate interventions. During the maintenance period, attending GA, finding meaning and purpose of life, serving others, mindfulness, loving-kindness and compassion meditation may be appropriate. Attending GA is considered to be an important spiritual intervention in the overall recovery process of gambling addiction.