Professor Mark Griffiths, director of the International Game Research Division at Nottingham Trent University, highlighted the potential policy implications of these findings, noting that
“The results may be related to clinical practice and the implementation of effective policies in preventing problematic loot box purchases,” he further explained. “The data suggest that there is a clear relationship between depression and anxiety, both as a pioneer and as a result of gambling severity, and that for robbery boxes purchases may also be similar, as though weaker, anxiety and depression are associated with more risky robbery boxes purchases.”
Cristina Villalba-Garcia, a researcher at the University of Gibraltar, urged to explain the findings, but emphasized their importance for future research. She said
“While these findings should be interpreted with caution, we suggest that further research on these behaviors will ultimately have great social and clinical relevance in the case of minimizing damage and under laws applicable to gambling.”
Researchers also believe that when considering regulations, especially for vulnerable and high-risk people, understand how trophy affects mental health and vice versa.
In a related article published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Professor Dmitrovic and colleagues called for a greater focus on behavioral addiction, including gambling, gaming disorder, compulsive shopping, problematic social media use and compulsive behavior. They warn that the rise of internet and smartphone access in young people has led to these addictions, which often lead to poorer treatment outcomes for people with mental health conditions.
The review identified five key behavioral addictions: gambling, internet gaming disorder, compulsive behavior disorder, compulsive shopping disorder, and problematic social media use. The growing awareness of these issues highlights the urgent need for further research, regulation and support for those affected.
Recently, MQ released a report examining the impact of Internet use on the mental health of children and young people. Read more about the loot box we found.
