Filling the void digitally: Compensatory expectations and social support in compulsive food ordering within super-app...

Compulsive food ordering is an emerging digital risk, but the cognitive mechanisms linking psychosocial deficits to behavior are not yet fully understood. This study integrates the I-PACE model with Compensatory Consumption Theory to develop and empirically validate a theory-driven predictive framework, assessed through PLS-SEM and out-of-sample cross-validation in a super-app environment. Findings show that "compensatory expectation" is the main driver, fully mediating the effects of loneliness and self-control on compulsive food ordering. This indicates that specific compensation-seeking beliefs, rather than simple cue-reactivity, drive compulsive ordering. Perceived social support serves as a key resource, reducing risks by alleviating loneliness and supporting self-regulation. Importance-performance map analysis suggests that cognitive restructuring should be prioritized over restriction, providing a data-driven approach for digital responsibility and platform well-being.