The Contribution of Cognitive Factors to Compulsive Buying Behaviour: Insights from Shopping Habit Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

It is now online the final published version of the Article

“The Contribution of Cognitive Factors to Compulsive Buying Behaviour: Insights from Shopping Habit Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic”

by Raffaella Nori, Micaela M. Zucchelli, Laura Piccardi, Massimiliano Palmiero, Alessia Bocchi and Paola Guariglia, published in Behavioral Sciences.

An increase in compulsive behaviours among young adults worldwide occurred in 2020, during restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, Authors investigate the role of working memory and decision-making style in compulsive behaviour. A total of 105 participants were recruited online from May 2020 to December 2020. Participants filled in a series of questionnaires measuring shopping compulsive behaviour, decision-making styles, deficits in working memory and online shopping habits. The results show that during the COVID-19 pandemic, people spent much more time shopping online, made more purchases and spent more money than prior to the pandemic.

Moreover, both higher working memory deficits and spontaneous decision-making style predicted a greater tendency to engage in compulsive buying.