The Differential Effects of Distinct Consumer Conflicts on Susceptibility to Maladaptive Behaviors : The Mediating Role of Psychosocial Factors

Maladaptive consumer behaviors like compulsive buying, herding behavior, and hoarding pose risks to consumers' well-being. However, less is known about how distinct consumer conflicts differentially predispose individuals to specific behaviors through psychological factors. This study aimed to test a socio-environmental model whereby financial stress, work-life imbalance, information overload, and social comparisons predict compulsive buying, herding, and hoarding through mental health difficulties and personality factors. An online sample of 384 Iranian adult consumers completed measures of consumer conflicts, psychosocial variables, and behavioral disorders. Results indicated that a wide range of conflict types is most strongly associated with particular disorders of consumer behavior. Mental health difficulties mediated some relationships while also conferring transdiagnostic vulnerability. Findings highlight the need for tailored interventions addressing the most relevant conflict sources for each behavioral disorder. Limitations include cross-sectional correlations and self-report methodology. Experimental, longitudinal, and clinical research manipulating conflict sources and measuring behaviors objectively can clarify causal processes and inform interventions to reduce maladaptive consumer behaviors