Buying-shopping disorder, impulsivity, emotional dependence and attachment in adolescents

In recent years, several studies have shown that the incidence of buying-shopping disorder (BSD) is increasing. Impulsivity is one of the factors involved in its aetiology and is related to emotional dependence. In addition, early affective deprivation may trigger emotional dependence. The aims of the present study weresal: to compare the types of attachment, levels of emotional dependence, impulsivity and BSD according to sex; to determine whether the proposed relational model is fulfilled; and analyse possible differences in this model in terms of the sample’s sex. The sample consisted of 1498 adolescents (53.8% men and 46.2% women) from Ecuador whose age ranged from 14 to 18 years (M = 15.77, SD = 1.21). The results showed that a preoccupied attachment style is indirectly related to a higher risk of BSD due to emotional dependence when impulsivity levels are medium or high because emotional dependence is moderated by impulsivity. The study variables are related in the same way in men and women but boys show higher levels of preoccupied attachment, impulsivity, emotional dependence and BSD. This study gives us a clearer picture of how these variables are related and provides information that could be of great use in assisting people with BSD. This knowledge could be applied to improve both the treatment and prevention of this problem.