Heterogeneity of compulsive buyers based on impulsivity and compulsivity dimensions: A latent profile analytic approach

Abstract Despite the recognition that compulsive buyers are not one homogenous group, there is a dearth of theory-guided empirical investigation. Furthermore, although compulsivity and impulsivity are used as major psychiatric criteria for diagnosing compulsive buyers, these dimensions have rarely b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychiatry research Vol. 208; no. 2; pp. 174 - 182
Main Author Yi, Sunghwan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Kidlington Elsevier Ireland Ltd 30.07.2013
Elsevier
Subjects
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Compulsive Behavior - diagnosis
Compulsive buyers
Compulsivity
Heterogeneity
Humans
Impulsive Behavior - diagnosis
Impulsivity
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Models, Statistical
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Social Control, Informal
Compulsive buyers
Compulsivity
Heterogeneity
Impulsivity
Human
Impulse control disorder
Compulsive buying
Compulsion
Clinical form
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Summary:Abstract Despite the recognition that compulsive buyers are not one homogenous group, there is a dearth of theory-guided empirical investigation. Furthermore, although compulsivity and impulsivity are used as major psychiatric criteria for diagnosing compulsive buyers, these dimensions have rarely been considered in assessing the heterogeneity issue. We fill this gap by applying the motivation shift model of addiction to compulsive buying and empirically assessing the heterogeneity issue in the bi-dimensional space represented by the buying impulsivity and compulsivity dimensions. These hypotheses were tested with latent profile analysis based on survey data ( N =445). Consistent with the hypothesis, we identified the cluster of buyers with high buying compulsivity and impulsivity (“compulsive–impulsive buyers”), the cluster of buyers with low buying compulsivity and high impulsivity (“impulsive excessive buyers”), and the cluster of ordinary buyers. Furthermore, it was found that disparate clusters of buyers exhibit unique dispositional tendencies. Theoretical contributions and policy implications of the findings are discussed as well.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0165-1781
1872-7123
DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2012.09.058