Compulsive buying and hoarding as identity substitutes: The role of materialistic value endorsement and depression

PURPOSE: 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. PROCEDURES: 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). FINDINGS: 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.publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Compulsive buying and hoarding as identity substitutes: The role of materialistic value endorsement and depression journaltitle: Comprehensive Psychiatry articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.04.005 content_type: article copyright: © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.status: publishe