Depressive symptoms and self-efficacy as mediators between life stress and compulsive buying: A cross-cultural comparison

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study is to postulate a model in which the pathways of life stress-Compulsive Buying (CB) can be explored. The model subjected to empirical testing considered life stress as antecedent variables, self-efficacy and depressive symptoms as mediators of these effects on CB across United States (US), China and South Korea college student samples.

Methods: A total convenience sample of 3263 college students (aged 18-30) was recruited from US (N=1205), China (N=1090) and South Korea (N=968). Validated psychological instruments were used to measure compulsive buying, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy and life stress.

Results: According to the cut-off scores (<= -1.34) of Compulsive Buying Scale, 18.3% (N=522) was classified as compulsive buyers in the total sample. In the US sample, 21.3% (N=257) of the students were classified as compulsive buyers. 16.0% (N=142) and 16.1% (N=123) of students were identified as compulsive buyers in China and South Korea sample respectively. Multiple-mediation model suggested that self-efficacy and depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationship of life stress and compulsive buying. Life stress exerted both direct and indirect influences on compulsive buying. Further moderated mediation analysis found that the pathways of the model did not differ among the three listed countries.

Conclusion: The present study contributed to an improved understanding of the complexity of the underlying psychological mechanisms that are involved in compulsive buying. In particular, the confirmation that psychological dynamic for life stress-CB associations are invariant across different cultural contexts makes an important theoretical contribution. The results of the present study suggest that depressive symptoms should be closely monitored and tackled among the college students from different cultural settings in order to reduce CB. Assessment and teaching of enhancing self-efficacy should also be included in programs that target at preventing and treating CB.