In the ever-evolving landscape of mental health and consumer behavior, a novel study sheds compelling light on the intricate interplay between compulsive shopping tendencies, family dynamics, and fashion orientation. This cross-sectional correlational research, focusing on female university students, offers a nuanced understanding of how personal and social variables converge to influence purchasing patterns that border on pathological. The findings, recently published in a reputable psychological journal, open new avenues for both clinical interventions and sociocultural awareness, underscoring the potency of family functioning and fashion consciousness in shaping compulsive buying behavior.
Compulsive shopping, often classified under behavioral addictions, is characterized by an overwhelming urge to purchase goods that leads to distress and adverse personal consequences. While widely recognized, the underlying psychosocial factors remain underexplored, particularly within young female populations who are frequently targeted by aggressive marketing and ever-shifting fashion trends. The researchers embarked on a descriptive cross-sectional study to quantify and elucidate these relationships, selecting a representative sample of female students as their focal group to enhance relevance and applicability in academic settings.
Family functioning emerges as a pivotal element in the psychosocial matrix contributing to compulsive shopping. The concept encompasses communication patterns, emotional bonding, conflict resolution, and overall cohesion within the family unit. Dysfunctional family environments may provoke or exacerbate maladaptive coping mechanisms, including excessive shopping as a form of emotional regulation or escapism. By employing validated psychometric tools, the study systematically assessed familial interactions, revealing a significant correlation between impaired family functioning and heightened compulsive buying tendencies.
In parallel, fashion orientation—the degree to which individuals are attuned to and influenced by fashion trends—was meticulously examined. This construct captures not only aesthetic preferences but also the psychological investment in appearance and social identity facilitated through clothing and accessories. The study’s findings articulate that higher levels of fashion orientation are strongly associated with increased compulsive shopping behavior among female students, signifying that fashion consciousness can act as both a motivator and a perpetuator of maladaptive consumption patterns.
The intersection of family functioning and fashion orientation creates a complex psychosocial environment where compulsive shopping flourishes. Female students experiencing familial discord may seek solace and self-expression through fashion-related purchases, which are further intensified by the societal pressures and identity formation typical of this developmental stage. This dual influence underscores the necessity of integrated approaches in understanding and addressing compulsive shopping, combining family therapy with behavioral interventions targeting fashion-related cognitions and attitudes.
A key methodological strength of the study lies in its cross-sectional correlational design, allowing for simultaneous measurement of multiple variables and the exploration of their interrelations within a large cohort. However, the design also posits limitations regarding causal inferences, necessitating future longitudinal research to delineate temporal relationships and potential bidirectional effects. Nonetheless, the robust statistical analyses employed mitigate confounding factors, lending credibility to the observed associations.
The societal implications of these findings ripple beyond academic discourses into public health and marketing ethics. Recognizing compulsive shopping as not merely an individual pathology but as a reflection of broader familial and cultural contexts invites a shift in prevention and intervention strategies. Educational institutions and mental health practitioners are encouraged to adopt holistic frameworks that consider family dynamics and fashion-related pressures when designing support programs for vulnerable young women.
Moreover, the study highlights the role of consumer culture and media influence in shaping fashion orientation, acting as external catalysts for compulsive shopping. The omnipresence of social media platforms and influencer marketing significantly amplifies exposure to idealized fashion norms, fostering continuous comparison and fostering compulsive acquisition behaviors. This insight demands critical attention from policymakers and advocates aiming to regulate advertising content targeted at impressionable demographics.
Clinically, the research advocates for screening tools that incorporate assessments of family environment and fashion-related attitudes to more accurately identify individuals at risk of compulsive shopping disorder. Such comprehensive evaluations could facilitate early identification and tailored interventions, reducing the psychosocial and financial burdens associated with this behavioral addiction. Family-based therapeutic models might also prove beneficial, addressing relational patterns that underpin compulsive buying.
The psychological mechanisms driving the link between family dysfunction and compulsive shopping likely involve emotional dysregulation and unmet attachment needs. Fashion orientation may serve both as a coping strategy and an expression of identity seeking, especially during the transition to adulthood typical of university experiences. These findings resonate with broader theories of consumer psychology and developmental psychopathology, enriching the conceptual toolkit available to researchers and clinicians alike.
In summary, the cross-sectional correlational study focusing on female college students reveals a compelling triadic association: the more impaired the family functioning and the higher the fashion orientation, the greater the propensity toward compulsive shopping behavior. This intricate interplay warrants multidisciplinary attention, integrating psychological, sociological, and marketing research perspectives to comprehensively tackle the phenomenon.
Future research directions include expanding demographic diversity, incorporating male participants, and exploring longitudinal trajectories of compulsive shopping behavior in relation to evolving family and fashion-related influences. Additionally, investigating the neurobiological substrates accompanying these psychosocial factors might provide deeper insights into the compulsive shopping pathology.
The study’s innovative melding of family systems theory with consumer behavior models represents a significant contribution to the psychological literature on behavioral addictions. It challenges simplistic attributions of compulsive shopping to individual deficits, instead framing it within a systemic and culturally embedded context. Such reframing is critical for effective prevention and therapeutic modalities.
As compulsive shopping continues to gain recognition as a distinct behavioral addiction with serious ramifications, this research underscores the urgency of culturally sensitive and contextually informed interventions. With fashion playing a double-edged role—both a source of joy and a potential trigger—the complexity of compulsive buying necessitates nuanced understanding. Mental health practitioners, educators, families, and policymakers must collaborate to create supportive environments that mitigate risks and promote healthy consumer behaviors.
Ultimately, this study serves as a clarion call to amplify awareness around compulsive shopping among youth, illuminating the deep-seated familial and social currents that shape its emergence. Integrating these insights into public discourse and clinical practice promises to foster resilience and healthier identities in a consumer-driven world increasingly defined by instantaneous gratification and image consciousness.
Subject of Research: The relationship between compulsive shopping behavior, family functioning, and fashion orientation among female students.
Article Title: The relationship between compulsive shopping behavior, family functioning, and fashion orientation among female students: a descriptive cross-sectional correlational study.
Article References:
Baniashraf, F., Madineshat, M., Ayubi, E. et al. The relationship between compulsive shopping behavior, family functioning, and fashion orientation among female students: a descriptive cross-sectional correlational study.
BMC Psychol 13, 923 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03288-6
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