General rather than specific: Cognitive deficits in suppressing task irrelevant stimuli are associated with buying-shopping disorder

Abstract

Objective To investigate associations between buying-shopping disorder (BSD) propensity and the performance in the Stroop Matching Task. This task measures stimulus interference, one specific component of behavioral impulsivity, using neutral (i.e. not buying related) stimuli. Deficits thus mirror a general rather than a specific deficit to resist task-irrelevant stimuli. Method 222 participants completed the Stroop Matching Task, the Pathological Buying Screener, and various questionnaires assessing clinical background variables as well as trait-impulsivity. Results Correlation analyses showed that BSD propensity was associated with poorer performance in the Stroop Matching Task. Multiple regression analyses controlling for related disorders and trait-impulsivity indicated that BSD was the only significant predictor. Conclusion These findings indicate that BSD propensity is associated with deficits in the stimulus interference component of behavioral impulsivity, mirroring a general cognitive deficit. Since no other disorder significantly predicted the performance in the Stroop Matching Task, this deficit seems to be unique for BSD.

Criteria for the establishment of a new behavioural addiction •

“…(2011) reported higher anterior cingulate activity in compulsive buyers, but noted that this also occurs in depression. Consistent with underlying cognitive mechanisms commonly observed in addictive behaviours, there is some evidence of impaired decision making ( Trotzke, Starcke, Pedersen, & Brand, 2015 ), stimulus-related inhibitory control deficits ( Lindheimer, Nicolai, & Moshagen, 2020 ), and craving ( Vogel et al., 2019 ) in studies of clinical and treatment-seeking patients.…”

Correlatos neuroanatómicos y neuropsicológicos del comportamiento de adicción a las compras. Una revisión sistemática

“…Los hallazgos evidenciaron que la propensión a la compra compulsiva se asociaba con un rendimiento más bajo en la tarea de emparejamiento de Stroop. Asimismo, una vez controladas las variables de los trastornos psicopatológicos, así como el rasgo de impulsividad, los análisis de regresión múltiple indicaron que la compra compulsiva era el único predictor significativo del bajo rendimiento en la tarea de Stroop [ 22 ].…”

The Contribution of Cognitive Factors to Compulsive Buying Behaviour: Insights from Shopping Habit Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Executive functions were also found to play a key role in CB. For example, Lindheimer et al [ 46 ] showed that a general cognitive deficit to resist interference from task-irrelevant external stimuli, measured by the inhibitory motor task (Stroop Matching Task), characterizes individuals with high values in CB screening. Heffernan et al [ 47 ] showed that CB was also associated with impaired self-reported inhibitory control.…”