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

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> 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. <b><i>Method:</i></b> The participants comprised a convenience sample (<i>N</i> = 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. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 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. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> 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.

Problematic Online Buying-Shopping: Is it Time to Considering the Concept of an Online Subtype of Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder or a Specific Internet-Use Disorder?

“…The maladaptive online as well as offline buying-shopping activities serve to experience pleasure (gratification) or to compensate negative feelings [26][27][28]. Research suggests common vulnerability factors for online and offline CBSD, in particular, strong materialistic values, low self-esteem, and identity confusion [15,[27][28][29][30][31][32]]. It appears that both CBSD modes serve to cope with materialistic and narcissistic needs and to escape reality.…”

“…Communicating about products via social networks may generate excitement and may also trigger cue reactivity and craving as well as social comparisons with other customers and accentuate the tendency towards materialism and CBSD, and vice versa [16,42]. In addition to these rather environmental aspects, there might be common vulnerability factors for social-network-use disorder and online CBSD such as social anxiety, narcissistic traits, and identity confusion [31,43,[45][46][47].…”

The Relationship of Shopping-Related Decisions with Materialistic Values Endorsement, Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder Symptoms and Everyday Moral Decision Making

“…The present investigation was part of a larger online survey. Findings from the same sample but related to other assessments and research questions have been reported elsewhere [ 44 ]. Participants did not receive any type of compensation or reimbursement.…”

Oniomania (Compulsive Buying Disorders) Among Working Women and Men in North Gujarat

“…"Aged between 18 and 67, the participants were a convenience sample (N = 272, 72.4% women). Standard questionnaires for BSD, identity issues, materialism, and the dark triad of personality were used in the assessment.After adjusting for identity confusion/synthesis, the single dark triad features, and BSD symptoms as the dependent variable, a moderated regression analysis showed substantial main effects for materialism, female gender, and a significant "narcissism by materialism" impact 12 . Our findings are supported by a study by BasakUnubol et al 2022 titled "The prevalence and psychological relevance of problem shopping: data from a large-scale sample from Turkey.…”