Top

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Published in:

01-08-2012

Excessive Eating and Compulsive Buying Behaviours in Women: An Empirical Pilot Study Examining Reward Sensitivity, Anxiety, Impulsivity, Self-Esteem and Social Desirability

Authors: Kate Davenport, James E. Houston, Mark D. Griffiths

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction | Issue 4/2012

Abstract

‘Mall disorders’ such as excessive eating and compulsive buying appear to be increasing, particularly among women. A battery of questionnaires was used in an attempt to determine this association between specific personality traits (i.e., reward sensitivity, impulsivity, cognitive and somatic anxiety, self-esteem, and social desirability) and excessive eating and compulsive buying in 134 women. Reward sensitivity and cognitive anxiety were positively related to excessive eating and compulsive buying, as was impulsivity to compulsive buying. Somatic anxiety and social desirability were negatively related to compulsive buying. These preliminary findings indicate that excessive behaviours are not necessarily interrelated. The behaviours examined in this study appear to act as an outlet for anxiety via the behaviours’ reinforcing properties (e.g., pleasure, attention, praise, etc.). As a consequence, this may boost self-esteem. The findings also appear to indicate a number of risk factors that could be used as ‘warning signs’ that the behaviour may develop into an addiction.

Avena, N. M., Rada, P., & Hoebel, B. G. (2008). Evidence for sugar addiction: Behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 32(1), 20–39.PubMedCrossRef

Björvell, H. (1985). Treatment of severe obesity. Stockholm: Gustav V-s forskningsinstitut, Karolinska Institutet.

Black, D. W. (2007). A review of compulsive buying disorder. World Psychiatry, 6, 14–18.PubMed

Brockner, J. (1983). Low self-esteem and behavioral plasticity: Some implications. In L. Wheeler & P. Shaver (Eds.), Review of personality and social psychology. Beverly Hills: Sage.

Campbell, B. C., & Eisenberg, D. (2007). Obesity, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and the dopaminergic reward system. Collegium Anthropologicum, 31(1), 315–319.

Carnes, P. (1983). Out of the shadows: Understanding sexual addiction. New York: CompCare.

Christenson, G. A., Faber, R. J., de Zwaan, M., Raymond, N. C., Specker, S. M., Eckern, M. D., et al. (1994). Compulsive buying: Descriptive characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 55, 5–11.PubMed

Cooperemith, S. (1967). The antecedents of self-esteem. San Francisco: Freeman.

Costanzo, P. R., & Musante, G. J. (1996). Study finds men and women overeat for different reasons. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 96(12), 1253.CrossRef

Davis, C., & Fox, J. (2008). Sensitivity to reward and body mass index (BMI): Evidence for a non-linear relationship. Appetite, 50, 43–49.PubMedCrossRef

Davis, C., Strachan, S., & Berkson, M. (2004). Sensitivity to reward: Implications for overeating and overweight. Appetite, 42, 131–138.PubMedCrossRef

Davis, C., Levitan, R. D., Smith, M., Tweed, S., & Curtis, C. (2006). Associations among overeating, overweight, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A structural equation modelling approach. Eating Behaviors, 7, 266–274.PubMedCrossRef

Davis, C., Patte, K., Levitan, R., Reid, C., Tweed, S., & Curtis, C. (2007). From motivation to behaviour: A model of reward sensitivity, overeating, and food preferences in the risk profile for obesity. Appetite, 48, 12–19.PubMedCrossRef

Davis, C., Levitan, R. D., Kaplan, A. S., Carter, J., Reid, C., Curtis, C., et al. (2008). Reward sensitivity and the D2 receptor gene: A case-control study of binge eating disorder. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 32(3), 620–628.CrossRef

De Lauzon, B., Romon, M., Deschamps, V., Lafay, L., & Borys, J.-M. (2004). The three-factor eating questionnaire-R18 is able to distinguish among different eating patterns in a general population. The Journal of Nutrition, 134, 2372–2380.PubMed

De Silva, P., & Eysenck, S. (1987). Personality and addictiveness in anorexic and bulimic patients. Personality and Individual Differences, 8(5), 749–751.CrossRef

Epstein, L. H., Dearing, K. K., Paluch, R. A., Roemmich, J. N., & Cho, D. (2007). Price and maternal obesity influence purchasing of low- and high-energy-dense foods. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 86, 914–922.PubMed

Faber, R. J., & O’Guinn, T. C. (1992). A clinical screener for compulsive buying. Journal of Consumer Research, 19, 459–469.CrossRef

Faber, R. J., & O'Guinn, T. C. (1989). Classifying compulsive consumers: Advances in the development of a diagnostic tool. In T. Srull (Ed.), Advances in consumer research, vol. 16 (pp. 738–744). Provo: Association for Consumer Research.

Faber, R. J., O'Guinn, T. C., & Krych, R. (1987). Compulsive consumption. In M. Wallendorf & P. An-derson (Eds.), Advances in consumer research, vol. 14 (pp. 132–135). Provo: Association for Consumer Research.

Faber, R. J., Christenson, G. A., de Zwaan, M., & Mitchell, J. (1995). Two forms of compulsive consumption: Comorbidity of compulsive buying and binge. The Journal of Consumer Research, 22(3), 296–304.CrossRef

Fleming, J. S., & Courtney, B. E. (1984). The dimensionality of self-esteem: II hierarchical facet model for revised measurement scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 404–421.CrossRef

Franken, I. H. A., & Muris, P. (2005). Individual differences in reward sensitivity are related to food craving and relative body weight in healthy women. Appetite, 45, 198–201.PubMedCrossRef

Göhner, W. (1999). Selbständiges training in der physiotherapie [Autonomous training in physiotherapy]. Unpublished diploma thesis, University of Trier, Germany

Griffiths, M. D. (1995). Adolescent gambling. London: Routledge.

Griffiths, M., & Banyard, P. (2009). Psychology in action. In M. W. Eysenck (Ed.), A2 level psychology. East Sussex: Psychology.

Heatherton, T. F., Polivy, J., Pliner, P., Herman, C. P. (1986). Selfesteem, body weight, and dieting status. Unpublished manuscript

Hirschman, E. C. (1991) “Recovering from drug addiction: A phenomenological account”. In J. F. Sherry, & B. Sternthal (Ed.), Advances in consumer research 18: (pp. 541–549). Association for Consumer Research

Holden, C. (2001). ‘Behavioral’ addictions: Do they exist? Science, 294, 980–982.PubMedCrossRef

Horgen, K. B., & Brownell, K. D. (2002). Comparison of price change and health message interventions in promoting healthy food choices. Health Psychology, 21, 505–512.PubMedCrossRef

Hsu, L. K. G. (1990). Experiential aspects of bulimia nervosa. Behavior Modification, 14, 50–65.PubMedCrossRef

Ifland, J. R., Preuss, H. G., Marcus, M. T., Rourke, K. M., Taylor, W. C., Burau, K., et al. (2009). Refined food addiction: A classic substance use disorder. Medical Hypotheses, 72, 518–526.PubMedCrossRef

Jacobs, D. F. (1986). A general theory of addictions: A new theoretical model. Journal of Gambling Behavior, 2, 15–31.CrossRef

Joiner, T. E., Jr., Sandín, B., Chorot, P., Lostao, L., & Marquina, G. (1997). Development and factor analytic validation of the SPANAS among women in Spain: (More) cross-cultural convergence in the structure of mood. Journal of Personality Assessment, 68(3), 600–615.PubMedCrossRef

Kaplan, H. I., & Kaplan, H. S. (1957). The psychosomatic concept of obesity. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorder, 125, 181–201.

Karlsson, J., Persson, L. O., Sjöström, L., & Sullivan, M. (2000). Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) in obese men and women. Results from the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study. International Journal pf Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 24(12), 1715–1725.CrossRef

Kenny, P. J. (2007). Brain reward systems and compulsive drug use. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 28(3), 135–141.PubMedCrossRef

Kolotkin, R. L., Revis, E. S., Kirkley, B. G., & Janick, L. (1987). Binge eating and obesity: Associated MMPI characteristics. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 872–876.PubMedCrossRef

Kraepelin, E. (1915). Psychiatrie (8th ed.). Leipzig: Barth.

Kruger, R., Kruger, H. S., & Macintyre, U. E. (2006). The determinants of overweight and obesity among 10- to 15-year-old schoolchildren in the North West Province, South Africa—the THUSA BANA (Transition and Health during Urbanisation of South Africans; BANA, children) study. Public Health Nutrition, 9, 351–358.PubMedCrossRef

Kukar-Kinney, M., Ridgway, N. M., & Monroe, K. B. (2009). The relationship between consumers’ tendencies to buy compulsively and their motivations to shop and buy on the internet. Journal of Retailing, 85(3), 298–307.CrossRef

Marlatt, G. A., Baer, J. S., Donovan, D. M., & Kivlahan, D. R. (1988). Addictive behaviours: Etiology and treatment. Annual Review of Psychology, 39, 223–252.PubMedCrossRef

McCrory, M. A., Suen, V. M. M., & Roberts, S. B. (2002). Biobehavioral influences on energy intake and adult weight gain. The Journal of Nutrition, 132, 3830–3834.

McElroy, S. L., Keck, P. E., Pope, H. G., Smith, J. M., & Strakowski, S. M. (1994). Compulsive buying: a report of 20 cases. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 55, 242–248.PubMed

McLeish, K. N., & Oxoby, R. J. (2007). Measuring impatience: Elicited discount rates and the Barratt impulsiveness scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 553–565.CrossRef

Must, A., Bandini, L. G., Tybor, D. J., Phillips, S. M., Naumova, E. N., & Dietz, W. H. (2007). Activity, inactivity, and screen time in relation to weight and fatness over adolescence in girls. Obesity, 15, 1774–1781.PubMedCrossRef

O’Connor, R. M., Colder, C. R., & Hawk, L. W., Jr. (2004). Confirmatory factor analysis of the sensitivity to punishment and sensitivity to reward questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 37, 985–1002.CrossRef

O’Guinn, T. C., & Faber, R. J. (1989). Compulsive buying: A phenomenological exploration. The Journal of Consumer Research, 16(2), 147–157.CrossRef

Orford, J. (2001). Excessive appetites: A psychological view of addictions. Chichester: Wiley.

Orleans, C. T., & Barnett, L. R. (1984). Bulimarexia: Guidelines for behavioral assessment and treatment. In R. C. Hawkins, W. J. Fremouw, & P. F. Clement (Eds.), The binge-purge syndrome: Diagnosis, treatment, and research. New York: Springer.

Palme, G., & Palme, J. (1999). Personality characteristics of females seeking treatment for obesity, bulimia nervosa and alcoholic disorders. Personality and Individual Differences, 26, 255–263.CrossRef

Patrick, K., Norman, G. J., Calfas, K. J., et al. (2004). Diet, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors as risk factors for overweight in adolescence. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 158, 385–390.CrossRef

Patton, J. H., Stanford, M. S., & Barratt, E. S. (1995). Factor structure of the Barratt impulsiveness scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51(6), 768–774.PubMedCrossRef

Pickering, A. D., & Gray, J. A. (1999). The neuroscience of personality. In L. A. Pervin & O. P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (2nd ed., pp. 277–299). Guilford: New York.

Polivy, J., Heatherton, T. F., & Herman, C. P. (1988). Self-esteem, restraint, and eating behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 97(3), 354–356.PubMedCrossRef

Pratarelli, M. E., & Browne, B. L. (2002). Confirmatory factor analysis of internet use and addiction. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 5(1), 53–64.CrossRef

Roberts, J. A. (1998). Compulsive buying among college students: An investigation of its antecedents, consequences and implications for public policy. The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 32(2), 295–319.CrossRef

Robinson, J. P., Shaver, P. R., & Wrightman, L. S. (1991). Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes. New York: Academic.

Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Ross, H. E., & Ivis, F. (1998). Binge eating and substance use among male and female adolescents. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 26, 245–260.CrossRef

Ruderman, A. J., & Christensen, H. (1983). Restraint theory and its applicability to overweight individuals. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1(92), 210–215.CrossRef

Salzman, L. (1981). Psychodynamics of the addictions. In J. Mule (Ed.), Behavior in excess: An examination of volitional disorders (pp. 338–349). New York: Free Press.

Schalling, D. et al. (1983). Impulsive cognitive style and inability to tolerate boredom: Psychobiological studies of temperamental vulnerability. In M. Zuckerman, & L. Erlbaum (Ed.), Biological bases of sensation seeking, impulsivity and anxiety (pp. 123–145). New Jersey

Schwartz, G. E., Davidson, R. J., & Goleman, D. J. (1978). Patterning of cognitive and somatic processes in the self-regulation of anxiety: Effects of mediation virus exercise. Psychosomatic Medicine, 40(4), 321–328.PubMed

Siervo, M., Boschi, V., Papa, A., Bellini, O., & Falconi, C. (2005). Application of the SCOFF, Eating Attitude Test 26 (EAT 26) and Eating Inventory (TFEQ) questionnaires in young women seeking diet-therapy. Eating and Weight Disorders, 10(2), 76–82.PubMed

Stöber, J. (1999). Die Soziale-Erwünschtheits-Skala-17 (SES-17): Entwicklung und erste Befunde zu Reliabilität und Validität [The Social Desirability Scale-17 (SDS-17): Development and first results on reliability and validity]. Diagnostica, 45, 173–177.CrossRef

Striegel-Moore, R., & Rodin, J. (1986). The influence of psychological variables in obesity. In K. D. Brownell & J. P. Foreyt (Eds.), Handbook of eating disorders. New York: Basic Books.

Tilgner, L., Wertheim, E. H., & Paxton, S. J. (2003). Effect of social desirability on adolescent girls’ responses to an eating disorders prevention program. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 35, 211–216.CrossRef

Torrubia, R., Avila, C., Molt, O. J., & Grande, I. (1995). Testing for stress and happiness: The role of the behavioral inhibition system. In C. D. Spielberg, I. G. Sarason, J. Brebner, E. Greenglass, P. Langani, & A. M. O’Roark (Eds.), In stress and emotion: Anxiety, anger, and curiosity (15) (pp. 189–211). Washington: Taylor and Francis.

Torrubia, R., Avila, C., Molt, O. J., & Caseras, X. (2001). The sensitivity to punishment and sensitivity to reward questionnaire (SPSRQ) as a measure of grays anxiety and impulsivity dimensions. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 837–862.CrossRef

Trinko, R., Sears, R. M., Guarnieri, D. J., & DiLeone, R. J. (2007). Neural mechanisms underlying obesity and drug addiction. Physiology & Behavior, 91(5), 499–505.CrossRef

Valence, G., d’Astous, A., & Fortier, L. (1988). Compulsive buying: Concept and measurement. Journal of Consumer Policy, 11, 419–433.CrossRef

Wiecha, J. L., Finkelstein, D., Troped, P. J., Fragala, M., & Peterson, K. E. (2006). School vending machine use and fast-food restaurant use are associated with sugar-sweetened beverage intake in youth. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 106, 1624–1630.PubMedCrossRef

Title: Excessive Eating and Compulsive Buying Behaviours in Women: An Empirical Pilot Study Examining Reward Sensitivity, Anxiety, Impulsivity, Self-Esteem and Social Desirability
Authors: Kate Davenport
James E. Houston
Mark D. Griffiths
Publication date: 01-08-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-011-9332-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Excessive Eating and Compulsive Buying Behaviours in Women: An Empirical Pilot Study Examining Reward Sensitivity, Anxiety, Impulsivity, Self-Esteem and Social Desirability

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2012

The Influence of Cultural Background on Parental Perceptions of Adolescent Gambling Behaviour: A Canadian Study

A Mutual Support Group for Young Problem Gamblers

Patients Who Attend the Emergency Department Following Medication Overdose: Self-reported Mental Health History and Intended Outcomes of Overdose

An Exploration of Quality of Life and its Predictors in Patients with Addictive Disorders: Gambling, Alcohol and Drugs

The Role of Impulsivity, Sensation Seeking, Coping, and Year of Study in Student Gambling: A Pilot Study

A Pilot Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program for Problem Gamblers in a Rural Australian Setting