The interplay of Internet addiction and compulsive shopping behaviors

We examined the relationship between Internet addiction and compulsive shopping in offline versus online settings, and the role of consumers’ self-esteem on their offline behavior and compulsive e-buying tendencies. We received 257 usable responses to a self-administrated online survey. Hypothesized causal relationships were tested with structural equation modelling using AMOS. Results showed that the respondents’ self-esteem was significantly and negatively related to compulsive online buying and Internet addiction. Both compulsive offline buying and Internet addiction had a strong positive relationship with compulsive online buying. Based on the significant influences of low self-esteem and Internet addiction, policy makers can develop educational or counselling programs that could influence consumers’ purchasing behaviors.