Are all facets of impulsivity related to self-reported compulsive buying behavior?

Abstract

Compulsive buying is defined as uncontrolled and excessive purchases leading to personal and family distress. While compulsive buying is generally considered to be an impulse control disorder, very few studies have explored its relationships with the multidimensional construct of impulsivity. Consequently, the aim of the present study is to investigate the role of the various components of impulsivity in compulsive buying. To this end, 150 volunteer participants from the community were screened using a questionnaire assessing compulsive buying, and the French version of the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale. This scale identifies four distinct components associated with impulsive behaviors: urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking. The results showed that (1) compulsive buying is positively correlated with three facets of impulsivity (urgency, lack of perseverance and lack of premeditation), and (2) multiple linear regression analysis revealed urgency to be the only significant predictor of compulsive buying tendencies when gender, age, educational level and depression were controlled for. Those findings are discussed in light of the psychological processes underlying the various components of impulsivity in relation to the occurrence of compulsive buying behaviors.