Shopping addiction could now be measured with a new method, called “The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale,” developed by researchers from a university in Norway. A new study shows that addictive shopping is more predominant in women with symptoms closely related to drug addiction and alcoholism.

The researchers applied the diagnostic criteria for other addictions to the new method, which has been described as the first of its kind worldwide. Addictive shopping has been found to start in late adolescence and emerging adulthood, while it decreases as the individual grows older.

Personality traits contribute on the development of problematic shopping. The researchers said that both extrovert and neurotic people are at high risk of the addiction.

Extroverts were found to be typically social and sensation seeking, in which shopping may be their way to enhance their social status and personal attractiveness, or express their individuality through shopping. The analysis also shows that those who are anxious, depressed and self-conscious are the types of neurotic people who may use shopping to ease their negative feelings.

Cecilie Schou Andreassen, a psychology doctor from the University of Bergen, said in a statement that the "modern technology has made shopping extremely accessible and convenient, with the potential of sending problematic shopping into overdrive.” She added that sociocultural factors such as social media, credit cards and advanced marketing also increase the risk of developing shopping addiction.

Andreassen and her colleagues also found that shopping addiction is related to symptoms of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Shopping may also work for individuals as an escape mechanism, or to cope with unpleasant feelings. However, Andreassen said that shopping could also lead to negative emotions.

Meanwhile, the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, shows that some people are at lower risk of problematic shopping. Individuals, who are “conscientious, agreeable, and who like new and intellectual stimuli” are at lower risk. The researchers said that these people typically have good self-control, and only consider shopping as a conventional activity.

To personally measure the level of shopping addiction, there are seven basic criteria that people can answer on the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale. The items should be scored on the following scale: (0) Completely disagree, (1) Disagree, (2) Neither disagree nor agree, (3) Agree, and (4) Completely agree.

People can do self-assessment with the seven warning signs:

  • You think about shopping/buying things all the time.
  • You shop/buy things in order to change your mood.
  • You shop/buy so much that it negatively affects your daily obligations (e.g., school and work).
  • You feel you have to shop/buy more and more to obtain the same satisfaction as before.
  • You have decided to shop/buy less, but have not been able to do so.
  • You feel bad if you for some reason are prevented from shopping/buying things.
  • You shop/buy so much that it has impaired your well-being.

Having at least four items with the score of "agree" or "completely agree" may suggest that a person is a shopping addict, the researchers say.

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