The Roles of Anxiety and Self-Esteem in the Risk of Eating Disorders and Compulsive Buying Behavior

Concetta De Pasquale, Martina Morando, Silvia Platania (), Federica Sciacca, Zira Hichy, Santo Di Nuovo and Maria Catena Quattropani
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Concetta De Pasquale: Section Philosophy and Social Sciences, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Martina Morando: Section Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Silvia Platania: Section Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Federica Sciacca: Section Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Zira Hichy: Section Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Santo Di Nuovo: Section Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Maria Catena Quattropani: Section Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: In contemporary society, following the sudden changes that occur, different forms of addiction are becoming popular. Of note are the new addictions and concepts of poly-dependencies that involve common behaviors and trap people who suffering from them in a vicious circle. The main goal of this study is to investigate the possible mediating role that self-esteem had between trait anxiety and two specific new addictions: compulsive buying behavior and eating disorders. Furthermore, it was verified through a multigroup analysis that trait anxiety had a greater effect on eating disorders in a group of compulsive consumers. Three-hundred and fifty-two participants (67.9% women) were enrolled to participate in this study. The results showed that there was a direct effect of trait anxiety on eating disorders and on compulsive buying behavior; self-esteem mediated the effect of trait anxiety on eating disorders and compulsive buying behavior with specific differences; multi-group analysis showed differences in anxiety’s effect on eating disorders between compulsive and non-compulsive consumers; the group of compulsive consumers revealed a significant and stronger effect of trait anxiety on eating disorders in all domains identified. Further research is recommended to better understand the predictors of these disorders and to contribute to a more effective preventive intervention.

Keywords: compulsive buying behavior; mediation; self-esteem; eating disorder; trait anxiety; multigroup (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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