title: Compulsive buying and hoarding as identity substitutes: The role of materialistic value endorsement and depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we investigated whether the relationship between identity confusion and compulsive buying (offline/online) and hoarding is mediated by materialistic value endorsement and depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The community sample consisted of 254 Flemish adults who completed self-report questionnaires to assess identity confusion (Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory), compulsive buying tendencies (Compulsive Buying Scale/short-Internet Addiction Scale, adapted for shopping), hoarding tendencies (Saving-Inventory Revised), materialistic value endorsement (Materialistic Value Scale), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant positive associations between identity confusion, compulsive buying, and hoarding. The association between identity confusion and compulsive buying was fully mediated by materialistic value endorsement; whereas depression mediated the association between identity confusion and hoarding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the collection or buying of material goods can be considered as identity substitutes.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: Laurence.Claes@ppw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Claes
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luyckx
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D001530:Belgium; D003132:Commerce; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D060845:Hoarding / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires