Reducing Problematic Loot-box Use with Self-control Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Problematic loot-box use has received increasing attention from researchers due to its prevalent and negative consequences, such as its close relationship with problem gaming and problem gambling, but few interventional studies have addressed this issue. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a self-control intervention on reducing problematic loot-box use, and further test the mediating role of problem gaming and impulse buying tendency. The intervention integrated various theoretically supported self-control strategies into a systematic course. A randomized controlled trial with 241 participants (Mage = 21.61, SD = 2.92, 172 males) was conducted using the Self-Control Scale, the Impulse Buying Tendency scale, the Internet Gaming Disorder scale, and the Risky Loot-box Index scale. The results showed that the intervention increased self-control significantly, as well as decreasing problem gaming, impulse buying tendency and problematic loot-box use significantly. Our work expands the research on problematic loot-box use by examining its relationship with self-control and provides a promising new intervention for practice.