Relationship between self-control, impulsivity, reinforcement sensitivity, shopping characteristics and problematic shopping among female and male emerging adult
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Date
2025-02-27
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Abstract
Introduction. Problematic shopping, also known as compulsive buying or shopping addiction, is a growing concern in modern consumer behavior. This study examines the relationships between self-control, impulsivity, reinforcement sensitivity, shopping characteristics, and problematic shopping among emerging adult females and males.
Methods. A sample of 1,075 Polish participants (835 females, 240 males), aged 18–30, was analyzed using self-report questionnaires. The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS) assessed problematic shopping, while impulsivity, self-control, and reinforcement sensitivity were assessed with validated psychological instruments. Paths model was applied to evaluate the relationships among variables and gender differences.
Results. Problematic shopping was positively associated with motor and attentional impulsivity among female shoppers, while goal maintenance deficits correlated with problematic shopping in male shoppers. Among female shoppers, paying attention to product brands and credit/loan use was significantly associated with problematic shopping, while price showed a negative association. In both groups, problematic shopping correlated with increased online and offline shopping time. The study also found that reinforcement sensitivity (BAS – Reward Interest) negatively correlated with problematic shopping in female shoppers. The results suggest that motor impulsivity is more crucial in problematic shopping among female than male shoppers.
Conclusion. This study highlights the importance of impulsivity, self-control deficits, and shopping characteristics in developing problematic shopping behaviors. Gender differences indicate distinct mechanisms underlying compulsive buying tendencies. These findings contribute to a better understanding of problematic shopping and offer insights for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.
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Keywords
shopping, problematic shopping, impulsivity, self-control, reinforcement sensitivity