Buying-shopping disorder, impulsivity, emotional dependence and attachment in adolescents

In recent years, several studies have shown that the incidence of buying-shopping disorder (BSD) is increasing. Impulsivity is one of the factors involved in its aetiology and is related to emotional dependence. In addition, early affective deprivation may trigger emotional dependence. The aims of the present study weresal: to compare the types of attachment, levels of emotional dependence, impulsivity and BSD according to sex; to determine whether the proposed relational model is fulfilled; and analyse possible differences in this model in terms of the sample's sex. The sample consisted of 1498 adolescents (53.8% men and 46.2% women) from Ecuador whose age ranged from 14 to 18 years (M = 15.77, SD = 1.21). The results showed that a preoccupied attachment style is indirectly related to a higher risk of BSD due to emotional dependence when impulsivity levels are medium or high because emotional dependence is moderated by impulsivity. The study variables are related in the same way in men and women but boys show higher levels of preoccupied attachment, impulsivity, emotional dependence and BSD. This study gives us a clearer picture of how these variables are related and provides information that could be of great use in assisting people with BSD. This knowledge could be applied to improve both the treatment and prevention of this problem.

The experience of gratification and compensation in addictive behaviors: How can these experiences be measured systematically within and across disorders due to addictive behaviors?

BACKGROUND

Beyond gaming disorder and gambling disorder, pornography-use disorder, buying-shopping disorder, and social-networksuse disorders are discussed as further disorders due to addictive behaviors. For addictive behaviors, it is assumed that the experience of gratification and the experience of compensation due to the specific behavior represent reinforcing processes involved in the development and maintenance of the problematic behaviors. We aimed to develop two questionnaires that capture the experienced gratification and experienced compensation while using online activities. We additionally assume significant relationships with further addiction-related constructs such as symptom severity, use expectancies, and craving experiences.

METHODS

We conducted three studies for the development of the "Experience of Gratification Scale" (EGS) and the "Experience of Compensation Scale" (ECS). In each study, participants answered the questionnaires modified for their preferred online activity (gaming, gambling, buying-shopping, social-networks use, pornography use). Additional questionnaires were used, assessing further addiction-related constructs.

RESULTS

The results of the gradual approach by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated for both scales a two-factor solution resulting in "gratification of needs" and "experience of pleasure" for the EGS, and "compensation of needs" and "experience of relief from negative feelings" for the ECS. The factors were significantly correlated with each other as well as with craving experiences, use expectancies, and symptom severity. Moreover, we found significant differences in the experienced gratification and experienced compensation for specific online behaviors.

CONCLUSION

The theoretically plausible specific factors for experienced gratification and experienced compensation could be identified and were related to constructs considered important in addictive online behaviors. Further studies should investigate the relevance of these constructs for different types of addictive behaviors, but also within the addiction process addressing specific needs and motives as well as further positive and negative reinforcement mechanisms.

Associations of Buying-Shopping Disorder Symptoms with Identity Confusion, Materialism, and Socially Undesirable Personality Features in a Community Sample

INTRODUCTION

While identity problems and materialistic value endorsement have been described as predisposing factors for buying-shopping disorder (BSD) in the literature, little empirical data are available on the role of socially undesirable personality features that may contribute to financial misconduct and manipulative interpersonal behaviors in BSD. The dark triad of personality refers to such offensive yet non-pathological personality traits and has been applied to addictive behaviors in the past. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the "dark triad" dimensions Machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism, and subclinical psychopathy predict symptoms of BSD above and beyond identity confusion and materialism, or moderate the relationship between materialism and symptoms of BSD.

METHOD

The participants comprised a convenience sample (N = 272, 72.4% women) aged between 18 and 67 years. Assessment included standard questionnaires for BSD, identity problems, materialism, and the dark triad of personality.

RESULTS

Zero-order correlations indicate a weak association between BSD and the dark triad dimensions Machiavellianism and narcissism, but not psychopathy. Results of a moderated regression analysis with BSD symptoms as a dependent variable revealed significant main effects for materialism, female gender, and a significant "narcissism by materialism" effect, after accounting for identity confusion/synthesis and the single dark triad traits.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that individuals with BSD attempt to address their narcissistic deficits via materialistic possessions. This assumption warrants further investigation in a clinical sample.

Buying-Shopping Disorder among Women: The Role of Vulnerability to Marketing, Buying Motives, Impulsivity, and Self-Esteem

INTRODUCTION

The influence of marketing on addictive behaviours has been studied among tobacco and alcohol users. Although the fashion industry is highly influenced by marketing, research has poorly studied vulnerability to fashion marketing as a factor related to buying-shopping disorder (BSD) while considering psychological characteristics (buying motives, impulsivity, and self-esteem).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present work is to investigate the relationship between vulnerability to marketing and BSD.

METHODS

Women (n = 242) were exclusively recruited through social networking. They completed an online survey exploring the severity of BSD using the Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS) and the psychological factors associated with BSD (impulsivity, self-esteem, and buying motives) and an experimental task designed to investigate the intention to purchase in several situations, where marketing modalities such as price, brand, and packaging fluctuate.

RESULTS

Among the 242 participants in the study, 34 were identified as compulsive buyers (14%). Income level was considered, and compulsive buyers displayed a higher level of vulnerability to marketing, except for the packaging modality. High levels of positive urgency, lack of premeditation, and coping motivation were found to be significant predictors of the CBS score, but vulnerability to marketing was not.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Compulsive buyers seem to be more sensitive to marketing strategies, although vulnerability to marketing was not identified as a predictor of the severity of BSD. Given the enormous literature on the role of marketing in other addictive behaviours, further studies are needed to better understand the role of marketing in BSD to develop appropriate public health policies.

The Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model for addictive behaviors: Update, generalization to addictive behaviors beyond internet-use disorders, and specification of the process character of addictive behaviors

We propose an updated version of the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, which we argue to be valid for several types of addictive behaviors, such as gambling, gaming, buying-shopping, and compulsive sexual behavior disorders. Based on recent empirical findings and theoretical considerations, we argue that addictive behaviors develop as a consequence of the interactions between predisposing variables, affective and cognitive responses to specific stimuli, and executive functions, such as inhibitory control and decision-making. In the process of addictive behaviors, the associations between cue-reactivity/craving and diminished inhibitory control contribute to the development of habitual behaviors. An imbalance between structures of fronto-striatal circuits, particularly between ventral striatum, amygdala, and dorsolateral prefrontal areas, may be particularly relevant to early stages and the dorsal striatum to later stages of addictive processes. The I-PACE model may provide a theoretical foundation for future studies on addictive behaviors and clinical practice. Future studies should investigate common and unique mechanisms involved in addictive, obsessive-compulsive-related, impulse-control, and substance-use disorders.