Relationship of Self-Esteem and Compulsive Buying: Role of Age and Gender

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between self-esteem, compulsive buying, gender and age. Self esteem has been considered as a factor contributing towards tendency of compulsive buying in the research literature. Especially low self esteem is considered to be one of the major triggers of compulsive buying behavior. Moreover, age and gender have been assumed to have a significant relationship with compulsive buying. Therefore it is important to explore relationship among these variables especially in today’s world when owning material things has become easier and more desirable. Cross-sectional research design was used. The study was carried out with a convenience sample of 231 participants in the age range 18 - 40 years. Rosenberg self esteem scale was used as measure of self esteem. For compulsive buying, Edwards Compulsive Buying Scale- Revised was used. The findings indicated non significant correlation between self-esteem and compulsive buying, a non significant relationship between gender and compulsive buying and a weak but significant correlation between age and compulsive buying. Future research should investigate the relationship between self esteem and compulsive buying with a larger sample in a wider age range. Moreover qualitative investigation in to the dynamics of compulsive buying as well as those of coping with low self esteem and seeking pleasure in case of high self esteem, in both genders will also provide better insight regarding gender, self esteem and compulsive buying.