Compulsive Buying, Self-Regulation, Self Esteem among Young Adults

Abstract

Compulsive Buying Behaviour, an ongoing trend of addictive shopping behaviour which indulges many youth and an area need to be explored as it has tremendous effect on one’s life. At this point, young adults become the main focus as they are in the stage of starting to earn a disposable income and therefore, they should able to regulate themselves over their financial matters for avoiding future crisis like debts, financial crisis and other psychological effects. But the studies on this area are rare and only few have focused on Kerala population. The aim of the present study was to understand Self-Regulation and Self Esteem in Compulsive Buying among young adults. And to study differences among Compulsive buyers and Non-Compulsive Buyers on study variables. It was hypothesized that Compulsive Buying would not be significantly related with Self Esteem and Self-Regulation. For this purpose, 120 young adults in the age range of 18-25 years, in Kerala were administered The Compulsive Buying Scale (Valence, d’Astous & Fortier, 1988), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), Self- Regulation Scale (Schwarzer, Diehl & Schmitz, 1999). Correlation analysis. Additionally, t-ratio also calculated to understand the gender differences and other demographic differences like localities (urban or rural), family type, etc. Results revealed that Compulsive buyers have low self-regulation. Self-esteem is negatively correlated with Self-Regulation. Women have more self-esteem than men and compulsive buying is higher among urban residents than rural residents. Practical implications are that compulsive buying is negative and harmful behavior with damaging consequences for an individual psychologically and financially. So proper measures should identified and implemented for impeding compulsive buying and training and education should provided for changing such shopping attitudes and for self regulation and management.