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Emotion-focused coping mediates the relationship between COVID-related distress and compulsive buying

Author

Listed:
  • Lilla Nóra Kovács
  • Eva Katzinger
  • Sunghwan Yi
  • Zsolt Demetrovics
  • Aniko Maraz
  • Gyöngyi Kökönyei

Abstract

Background and aims: COVID-19 posits psychological challenges worldwide and has given rise to nonadaptive behavior, especially in the presence of maladaptive coping. In the current study, we assessed whether the relationship between COVID-related distress and compulsive buying is mediated by task-focused and emotion-focused coping. We also examined whether these associations were invariant over time as the pandemic unfolded. Methods: Self-report surveys were administered online in the United States in the first six months of the pandemic (March–October 2020) in sampling batches of 25 participants every three days, resulting in a total sample of N = 1,418 (40% female, mean age = 36.6). We carried out structural equation modeling to assess whether the relationship between distress related to COVID-19 and compulsive buying is mediated by task-focused and emotion-focused coping. Time was used as a grouping variable based on events related to the pandemic in the U.S. to calculate model invariance across three time periods. Results: The results indicated significant mediation between distress, emotion-focused coping, and compulsive buying, but not between task-focused coping and compulsive buying. The mediation model showed excellent fit to the data (χ² = 1119.377, df = 420, RMSEA = 0.059 [0.055–0.064], SRMR = 0.049, CFI = 0.951, TLI = 0.947). Models were not invariant across the three examined time periods. Conclusions: Our results indicate that compulsive buying is more likely to occur in relation to emotion-focused coping as a response to COVID-related distress than in relation to task-focused coping, especially during periods of increasing distress. However, model paths varied during the course of the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Lilla Nóra Kovács & Eva Katzinger & Sunghwan Yi & Zsolt Demetrovics & Aniko Maraz & Gyöngyi Kökönyei, 2022. "Emotion-focused coping mediates the relationship between COVID-related distress and compulsive buying," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0274458
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274458
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kukar-Kinney, Monika & Scheinbaum, Angeline Close & Schaefers, Tobias, 2016. "Compulsive buying in online daily deal settings: An investigation of motivations and contextual elements," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 691-699.
    2. Cristina Mazza & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Marco Colasanti & Stefano Ferracuti & Christian Napoli & Paolo Roma, 2020. "A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
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