7th International Conference on Behavioral Addictions (ICBA 2022) June 20–22, 2022, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Abstract

Compulsive buying, despite not being included in the DSM-5 and ICD-11 manuals as a type of non-substance addiction, is considered a behavioural addiction by several experts. This problem has been linked to impulsivity, which is related to emotional dependence and attachment styles. Differences in the prevalence of compulsive buying between men and women have generated much interest, but findings do not always point in the same direction. Aims: this study aims to analyse the differences in attachment, emotional dependence, impulsivity and compulsive buying between men and women; to analyse the model by which all these variables are related; and to test whether or not this model is different for men and women. Method: a non-clinical sample of 1,500 adolescents, half male and half female, living in South America was collected. After informed consent was given to the parents and/or legal guardians of the adolescents, the participants filled in the questionnaires in paper format. Results: the model initially proposed was confirmed. Despite finding differences between males and females in terms of levels of emotional dependence, impulsivity, compulsive buying and attachment, the way these variables interact does not change depending on gender. Conclusions: these results are very useful to implement better treatments aimed at mitigating or coping with compulsive buying, as well as to prevent this problem.