Perceived stress and compulsive buying among Saudi adults: the mediation role of rumination

Prior studies have claimed that people engage in compulsive buying in an attempt to deal with stress. Nonetheless, not every stressed person engages in compulsive buying. It is therefore important to investigate the cognitive mechanisms underlying such behavior. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between perceived stress and compulsive buying, and the mediation role of rumination. In particular, the study focused on these relationships among Saudi adults.

The study used a convenience sampling method and a cross-sectional design. A sample of 455 Saudi adults participated (mean age = 32.7, SD = 11.13, 73.8% women). Respondents completed the Edwards Compulsive Buying Scale Revised, the Ruminative Responses Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships among the study variables.

The study tested two dimensions of rumination, brooding rumination and reflection rumination. Perceived stress was positively associated with compulsive buying. However, when the mediation variables of brooding rumination and reflection rumination were introduced into the model, brooding fully mediated the relationship between perceived stress and compulsive buying, but reflection did not mediate this relationship.

It appears that brooding rumination plays an important role in the development and sustaining of compulsive buying behaviors following stressful experiences.