Compulsive Buying on the Internet – Evaluation of Hypotheses and Model Exploration to Clarify Causes and Trigger of Pathological Buying Behaviour

Online shopping has become increasingly attractive compared to real life purchases. In terms of the prevalence of internet addiction and compulsive buying disorder it is of practical and scientific interest to empirically identify reasons and activating circumstances for compulsive buying behavior and to answer the question whether the internet can be considered an influencing risk factor. The present study with a sample of N = 191 participants examines to what extent pathological buying behavior can be differentiated by the criteria of Raab, Neuner, Reisch and Scherhorn (2005) und whether participants without pathological findings, participants with compensative and participants with pathological symptoms differ in distal, mediating and proximal predictors of compulsive behavior. Furthermore, it is examined which activating and maintaining factors play a role when it comes to online shopping behavior. Results show that sex, neuroticism and a need for self-regulation can be considered risk factors. Conscientiousness as a protective factor could be identified and can be interpreted as solid self-management skills. Findings indicate that current virtual environments do not carry risk for the development of a compulsive buying disorder only because of missing social enforcement processes. Further scientific and practical implications are discussed.