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Shopping addiction, also known as compulsive buying disorder (CBD), is often described as a compulsion to buy things to fight negative feelings such as boredom, loneliness or depression.
Research shows that about 3% of European adults and up to 8% of young European adults might suffer from some level of shopping addiction. In other countries, like the US, that figure can reach up to 12%.
Causes of shopping addiction
There’s no single trigger for shopping addiction. In fact, experts believe it often starts like any other addiction: as a way of coping with emotional pain, stress or anxiety.
Many people who suffer from shopping addiction often also suffer from other mood and personality disorders. Others might turn to shopping as a way of dealing with boredom or low self-esteem.