Exploring the associations between early maladaptive schemas and impulsive and compulsive buying tendencies

Susana Rocha; Xosé Manuel Fernández; Yolanda Rodríguez Castro; Simão Ferreira; Liliana Teixeira; Carlos Campos; Nuno Barbosa Rocha

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1157710

Exploring the associations between early maladaptive schemas and impulsive and compulsive buying tendencies

Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jul 7:14:1157710. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1157710. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Susana Rocha^{1

2}, Xosé Manuel Fernández¹, Yolanda Rodríguez Castro¹, Simão Ferreira³, Liliana Teixeira^{3

4}, Carlos Campos^{5

6}, Nuno Barbosa Rocha³

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Social and Organizational Studies (CEOS.PP), ISCAP - Porto Accounting and Business School, Polytechnic University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
² Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
³ Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research, School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
⁴ Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology, School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal.
⁵ Neurocognition Group | LabRP, Center for Rehabilitation Research, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
⁶ Digital Human‑Environment Interaction Lab (HEI‑LAB), Lusófona University, Porto, Portugal.

Abstract

The main purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate a potential relationship between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and impulsive and compulsive buying tendencies in a sample of young adults (college students). This research adds to the cognitive perspective of consumer behavior that the cognitive schemas putatively associated with early experiences may have a strong impact on impulsive and compulsive buying. Data was obtained from 365 participants in a cross-sectional study design. Participants completed an online survey with the following instruments: Young Schema Questionnaire; Impulsive Buying Tendency Measurement Scale; Richmond Compulsive Buying Scale; and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Using multiple linear hierarchical regressions, we confirmed that the domain of over vigilance and inhibition schemas was positively associated with impulsive and compulsive buying tendencies, while an opposite association was found for the domain of impaired limits. Being a female was also a predictor of impulsive buying and compulsive buying. The results were discussed in terms of the coping mechanisms to deal with negative emotions, as a way to obtain rewards, or as a way to escape painful self-awareness. Other mechanisms related to the internalization of perfectionist expectations and the propensity to shame were also explored.

Keywords: buying addiction; compulsive buying; consumer behavior; early maladaptive schemas; impulsive buying.