SHOPPING ADDICTION — A REAL CHALLENGE DURING THE PANDEMIC

We live in a modern society, which imposes an alert pace of daily life for all of us. As a result, there are constant attempts to find ways for people to access any service as quickly as possible. The COVID-19 pandemic has made drastic changes in human behaviour, lifestyle and the reality people live in. There is a concern that people are living in times of multiple existential, economic and instability threats due to drastic changes in daily life. Also known as Oniomania, the habit of compulsive shopping has come to the attention of the medical world. Studies show that the habit of buying excessively has become a concern in today's society, being similar to other well-known compulsive or addictive disorders, such as substance abuse, gambling addiction, or eating disorders. Online shopping offers multiple benefits, therefore there has been an increase in using online shopping, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people had no other option than to stay at home and use the Internet for various purposes. Method: The review of the literature draws on searches within databases including Pubmed, Science Direct, Elsevier, EBSCO, Medline. Conclusion: Health crises, such as epidemics and pandemics, can be a key factor in compulsive shopping. There are seven variables which are thought to influence the possible development of online shopping addiction: low self-esteem, low self-regulation; negative emotion, enjoyment, gender, social anonymity and cognitive overload.

Analysis of Impulse Control Disorders (ICDs) and Factors Associated with Their Development in a Parkinson’s Disease Population

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease in which non-motor symptoms may appear before motor phenomena, which include Impulse Control Disorders (ICDs). The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with the development of ICDs in PD. An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted using clinical records from patients diagnosed with PD, both genders, from 40 to 80 years old. Clinical and demographic data were collected: 181 patients were recruited; 80 of them showed PD and ICDs, and they constituted the study group, whereas 101 patients with PD without ICDs constituted the control reference group. The duration of PD was longer in the group with ICDs (p < 0.008), and all patients showed at least one ICD: binge eating (61.29%), compulsive shopping (48.75%), hypersexuality (23.75%), gambling behavior (8.75%), and punding (3.75%). After logistic regression analysis, only the use of dopamine agonists remained associated with ICDs (p < 0.001), and the tremorgenic form was suggested to be a protective factor (p < 0.001). Positive associations were observed between the rigid-akinetic form and compulsive shopping (p < 0.007), between male and hypersexuality (p < 0.018), and between dopamine agonists and compulsive shopping (p < 0.004), and negative associations were observed between motor fluctuations and compulsive shopping (p < 0.031), between Deep Brain Stimulation and binge eating (p < 0.046), and between levodopa consumption and binge eating (p < 0.045). Binge eating, compulsive shopping, and hypersexuality were the most frequent ICDs. Complex forms and motor complications of PD were associated with the development of ICDs.

The impact of mall personality and shopping value on shoppers' well-being: moderating role of compulsive shopping

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the association between mall personality, hedonic and utilitarian shopping value, and shoppers' well-being. The moderating effect of compulsive shopping on the association between both hedonic and utilitarian shopping value, and shoppers' well-being is also investigated.Design/methodology/approachThis study is quantitative in nature, and a purposive sampling technique is used. Data was collected through mall intercept survey. The authors collected 431 usable responses from respondents at two different malls in Lahore, Pakistan. PLS-SEM was employed to test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsResults indicate that mall personality significantly and positively influences both hedonic and utilitarian shopping value and shoppers' well-being. Similarly, hedonic shopping value has a significant and positive impact on shoppers' well-being, while utilitarian shopping value has a non-significant relationship with shoppers' well-being. Moreover, while compulsive shopping behaviour moderates the positive relationship between hedonic shopping value and shoppers' well-being, it does not moderate the relationship between utilitarian shopping value and shoppers' well-being.Originality/valueDespite the extant studies on brand and store personality on numerous retail outcomes, no study has examined the association between mall personality and shoppers' well-being. Another key contribution of this study is to examine moderation effect of compulsive shopping on the association between shopping value and shoppers' well-being. Additionally, this study enlightens mall administration to emphasise upon mall personality and hedonic shopping value so as to enhance shoppers' well-being, more so if its product assortment encourages compulsive shopping.

Compulsive shopping as a private variant of behavioral addiction. The current state of the problem

Compulsive shopping, or compulsive buying disorders (CBD in English-language literature) is characterized by excessive, unnecessary spending, also known stereotypical «consumer behavior», which entails the development of various emotional disturbances and economic problems. The prevalence of disorder varies widely among countries and depends on socio-economic and cultural factors. Scattered data for Russia does not allow to reliably estimate the scale of the problem. Comorbidity of compulsive shopping is associated with various mental disorders: affective disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and other pathology of impulse control. The generality of the pathogenetic mechanisms, the clinical picture, the treatment approaches makes it possible to attribute compulsive shopping to one of the variants of non-chemical dependence.

Preventing compulsive shopping among young South-Africans and Germans

PurposeYoung consumers globally are susceptible to becoming compulsive shoppers. Having negative consequences and considering that compulsive shopping may originate from past family life experiences, this study aims to use human capital life-course and positive-activity theories to suggest a socio-psychological pathway for prevention. It also examined the mediating influence of happiness and money attitude.Design/methodology/approachUniversity students in South Africa (N= 171) and in Germany (N= 202) were surveyed. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test relationships and multi-group analysis (MGA) assessed cross-cultural differences.FindingsEmotional family resources received during childhood positively impacted happiness at young adulthood, which was found to be a positive driver of budget money attitude. Budget money attitude in turn limited compulsive shopping for German young consumers but not for South Africans. Cross-cultural differences are also observed in mediating effects of happiness and budget money attitude.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is based on self-reported data from university students; this might limit the generalisability of findings.Social implicationsA positive relationship between happiness and desirable money attitude was confirmed. This study additionally contributes by showing that for South African and German young consumers, adequate childhood emotional family resources is a happiness’ driver. This thus exposes the multiplier effects of simple acts of showing love and attention to children and how these family emotional resources can progressively limit dysfunctional consumer behaviour in the future.Originality/valueUnlike complex psychotherapeutical and psychopharmacological treatments of compulsive buying that are being suggested, this study borrows from family, consumer and economic–psychological disciplines to suggest simple preventive measures.

Impulsive-Compulsive Behaviours in Belgian-Flemish Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Background. Impulsive-compulsive behaviours (ICB) are a potentially harmful group of behavioural symptoms among the nonmotor aspects of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective. To develop and perform partial validation of a Belgian-Flemish version of the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease (QUIP) as a screening instrument for ICB in PD patients. Methods. Using a translation-backtranslation method, we developed a Belgian-Flemish version of the QUIP, which was subsequently completed by 88 PD patients. QUIP-positive patients were invited for a semistructured diagnostic interview. Results. A positive QUIP score for one or more ICB was observed in 37 patients (41%). In 15 patients (17%), a positive QUIP score for one or more impulse control disorders (ICD) was noted: pathological gambling in 1, hypersexuality in 8, compulsive shopping in 5, and compulsive eating in 8 patients. A positive QUIP score for punding, hobbyism, and/or walkabout was observed in 30 patients. The semistructured diagnostic interview was performed in 22 QUIP-positive patients. The diagnosis of ICB was confirmed in 6 patients, suggesting a positive predictive value of 27% for the Belgian-Flemish version of the QUIP. Conclusions. We have developed a Belgian-Flemish version of the QUIP, which can be used as a screening questionnaire for ICB in PD patients. Our data suggest that sensitivity is high, specificity is low, and validity of the questionnaire is similar to the original version. We confirm the necessity of additional clinical assessment of QUIP-positive patients to ascertain a diagnosis of ICB.

Avoidance coping, contingent self-esteem dan belanja kompulsif

Abstrak. Membanjirnya iklan produk fashion di berbagai media dan mudahnya mendapatkan produk pakaian, membuat keputusan berbelanja anak-anak muda lebih didasarkan pada aspek emosi. Keputusan berbelanja seringkali dimaksudkan untuk mendapatkan gengsi atau penghargaan dari orang lain dapat mendorong mereka melakukan belanja kompulsif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peran avoidance coping dalam memediasi hubungan antara contingent self-esteem dengan belanja kompulsif pakaian. Subjek penelitian ini berjumlah 276 mahasiswi Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang Angkatan 2018 yang diambil dengan teknik stratified sampling. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan dalam proses pengumpulan data adalah: skala Contingent Self-esteem (CSE), skala Coping Respon Inventoty (CRI) dan skala belanja kompulsif pakaian. Analisis data dilakukan dengan metode Mediation Analysis dari Hyes menunjukkan bahwa avoidance coping mampu memediasi hubungan antara contingent self-esteem dengan belanja kompulsif yang ditunjukkan dengan B=0.322; dengan p=0.006 (<0.01).Kata Kunci: avoidance coping, contingent self-esteem, belanja kompulsif Abstract. The flood of advertisements on fashion products in various media and the ease of getting clothing products, makes the decision to shop for young people more based on emotional aspects. Shopping decisions are often meant to get prestige or appreciation from others, which can encourage them to do compulsive shopping. This study aims to determine the role of avoidance coping in mediating the relationship between contingent self-esteem and compulsive shopping for clothing. The subject of this study amounted to 276 female students at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang Force 2018 taken by stratified sampling technique. The measures used were: Contingent Self-esteem (CSE) scale, Inventory Response Coping scale (CRI) and clothing compulsive shopping scale. Data analysis was performed by the Mediation Analysis method from Hyes showed that avoidance coping was able to mediate the relationship between contingent self-esteem and compulsive spending as indicated by B=0.322; with p=0.006 (<0.01). Keywords: avoidance coping, contingent self-esteem, compulsive shopping

MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Impulse control disorders in patients with hyperpolactinemia treated with dopamine agonists: how much should we worry?

Dopamine agonists (DAs) represent a cornerstone in the management of patients with hyperprolactinemia and have an important role in the treatment of neurologic disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome. A growing body of evidence has identified impulse control disorders (ICDs) as possible adverse effects of DA therapy. A variety of ICDs may occur in patients treated with DA, including compulsive shopping, pathologic gambling, stealing, hypersexuality and punding (repetitive performance of tasks, such as collecting, sorting, disassembling and assembling objects). These behaviors can have devastating effects on patients’ life and family. In the present review article, we summarize available data on ICDs in patients with hyperprolactinemia as well as other disorders. Possible risk factors for the emergence of ICDs in patients treated with DA are discussed and the putative pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the development of ICDs in this setting are reviewed. In addition, strategies for the early identification and management of ICDs in patients on DA are discussed. In conclusion, a wide variety of ICDs can occur in patients treated with DA, including those with hyperprolactinemia. The development of ICDs can have serious implications for patients’ well-being and family. Endocrinologists and other physicians involved in the care of patients on DA therapy must be aware of this potential adverse effect, counsel patients regarding pertinent symptoms and regularly evaluate treated patients for the development of ICDs. Early detection of ICDs and discontinuation of DA therapy can mitigate the potential harms associated with ICDs in these patients.