Loot box purchasing and indebtedness : The role of psychosocial factors and problem gambling
Publiceringsår
2023
Upphovspersoner
Sirola, Anu; Nyrhinen, Jussi; Nuckols, Julia; Wilska, Terhi-Anna
Abstrakt
Introduction Loot boxes are increasingly common random-reward monetization mechanisms in digital games. They are popular among gamblers and pose various risks due to their gambling-like nature, but little is known about psychosocial vulnerabilities and financial consequences of purchasing them. This article examined psychosocial associations with self-reported increase in loot box purchasing and indebtedness among past-year gamblers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Cross-sectional survey data were collected in April 2021 from Finnish, Swedish, and British past-year gamblers aged 18 to 75 (n = 2,022). Measures of loneliness, psychological resilience, and problem gambling were studied in relation to loot box purchasing and indebtedness. Structural equation modeling was used as an analytical technique. Results Loneliness was positively associated with self-reported increase in loot box purchasing. No evidence was found regarding the protective role of psychological resilience in loot box purchasing. Increased loot box purchasing was associated with problem gambling. Problem gambling mediated the relationship between loot box purchasing and indebtedness. Conclusions The findings bring valuable insight into the psychosocial vulnerabilities and financial consequences in loot box purchasing. Loot box purchasing can add to one’s financial strain particularly among vulnerable individuals such as problem gamblers, making it crucial to regulate such monetization practices.
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Publikationstyp
Publikationsform
Artikel
Moderpublikationens typ
Tidning
Artikelstyp
En originalartikel
Målgrupp
VetenskapligKollegialt utvärderad
Kollegialt utvärderadUKM:s publikationstyp
A1 Originalartikel i en vetenskaplig tidskriftPublikationskanalens uppgifter
Journal
Förläggare
Volym
18
Artikelnummer
100516
ISSN
Publikationsforum
Publikationsforumsnivå
1
Öppen tillgång
Öppen tillgänglighet i förläggarens tjänst
Ja
Öppen tillgång till publikationskanalen
Helt öppen publikationskanal
Parallellsparad
Ja
Publiceringsavgift för öppen tillgång €
2680
Betalningsår för den öppen tillgång publiceringsavgiften
2023
Övriga uppgifter
Vetenskapsområden
Sociologi
Nyckelord
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Publiceringsland
Nederländerna
Förlagets internationalitet
Internationell
Språk
engelska
Internationell sampublikation
Nej
Sampublikation med ett företag
Nej
DOI
10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100516
Publikationen ingår i undervisnings- och kulturministeriets datainsamling
Ja