Edwards, E. (1993). Development of a new scale for
measuring compulsive buying behavior. Financial Counseling and Planning,
4,
67-84.
Development of a New
Scale for Measuring Compulsive Buying Behavior
Elizabeth Edwards1
Compulsive buying is an
abnormal form of consumer spending which afflicts many individuals who,
as a result, often find themselves in deep debt. An instrument to assess
compulsive spending behavior is developed and the reliability and validity
of the scale and its subscales are evaluated. Exploratory and confirmatory
factor analyses confirm five hypothesized dimensions comprising compulsive
spending: Compulsion/Drive to Spend, Feelings About Shopping and Spending,
Tendency to Spend, Dysfunctional Spending, and Post-Purchase Guilt. Financial
counselors and therapists could use the scale to signal the need for clients
to seek out appropriate resources for help in addressing the underlying
behaviors and attitudes that led them to excessive debt.
Key Words: C
ompulsive, Measurement, Spending
Affiliation at the time of publication:
1. ELlizabeth Edwards, Marketing Department, Eastern Michigan University,
Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Phone: (313) 487-0180. E-mail: elizabeth.edwards@emich.edu.