Needs, Expectations and Reinforcement Mechanisms in Online Buying-Shopping Disorder

Despite negative consequences, individuals suffering from Online Buying-Shopping Disorder (OBSD) have diminished control over their usage behaviors. This prompts investigation of their use expectancies and needs, whether these are reward- and/or fear-driven, and possible reinforcement mechanisms. Due to increasing overlap with components of other specific Internet Use Disorders (IUDs), this study investigates the involvement of the fear-driven/compensation-seeking and reward-driven pathways in OBSD, which were originally proposed for Social Network Use Disorder.

Participants completed an online survey using the Assessment of Criteria for specific Internet-use disorders (ACSID-11), Short Loneliness Scale, Fear-of-Missing out (FOMO) questionnaire, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS), Internet Use Expectancies Scale (IUES), and the Experience of Gratification and Compensation Scale (EGCS).

Preliminary results show that symptom severity of OBSD is related to predisposing variables (Loneliness, Trait FOMO, Depression, BPNSFS), R2=.074, p<.05, and reinforcing mechanisms (IUES & EGSC), R2=.375, p<.001.

The results indicate that in addition to predisposing variables and reinforcement mechanisms, certain needs and fears as well as the expectation to experience pleasure or to avoid negative feelings are related to OBSD. Moreover, reward-related and fear-driven processes are also likely to play a role in OBSD. Accordingly, the results suggest further discussion of possible branches and parallels with other specific IUDs, for example the problematic use of social networks.