Impulsivity in consumers with high compulsive buying propensity

• We compared compulsive buyers and controls with respect to impulsivity measures and hoarding.
• We investigated self-reported and behavioral impulsivity in compulsive buying.
• We found group differences on self-reports of impulsivity but not on behavioral tasks.
• Compared to controls, hoarding was more prevalent in the CB group.
• Compulsive buyers with comorbid hoarding self-reported more impulsivity.

Compulsive buying (CB) is a pathological behavior leading to impairment and distress. Evidence suggests that CB is associated with impulsivity and hoarding. However, multi-method investigations of impulsivity in CB with and without hoarding are sparse. In this study, consumers with high CB propensity (CBs; n=28) and controls (n=21) were compared with respect to self-reported and behavioral impulsivity. We investigated the association between impulsivity and hoarding in CBs and compared CBs with hoarding (HCBs) and CBs without hoarding symptomatology (NCBs) with respect to self-reported impulsivity.Compared to controls, CBs scored higher on self-reported impulsivity, except for “sensation seeking”, but performed equally on behavioral assessments. Hoarding was more prevalent in CBs. Self-reported but not behavioral impulsivity was significantly correlated to hoarding symptoms. Compared to NCBs, HCBs reported to be more impulsive. However, the impulsivity facet “urgency” was the only significant predictor of CB although other impulsivity facets and acquisition-unrelated hoarding symptoms were considered.CBs and especially HCBs perceive themselves as more impulsive. However, this is not reflected on a behavioral level of impulsivity. Future studies should investigate impulsivity in CB under the consideration of hoarding using larger samples and more ecologically valid behavioral assessments.