title: Direct and retrospective assessment of factors contributing to compulsive buying.
abstract: Compulsive buying is a disorder that has begun to receive attention from researchers in recent years. The results of a handful of studies suggest that compulsive buying occurs in response to negative emotions and results in a decrease in the intensity of the negative emotions. In this investigation, we used interview and self-monitoring methods to evaluate the antecedents and consequences of compulsive buying in a sample of women who met criteria for compulsive buying on the compulsive buying scale (J. Consumer Res. 19 (1992) 459). As a group, the participants reported negative emotions as the most common antecedents to compulsive buying, and euphoria or relief from the negative emotions as the most common consequence of compulsive buying. These findings were consistent across the interview and self-monitoring assessment methods. The implications for assessment and treatment are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA. ray.miltenberger@ndsu.nodak.edu
authors.forename: Raymond G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Miltenberger
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Redlin
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stickney
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wonderlich
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003132:Commerce; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy