
A new test designed by psychologists helps determine whether or not you are addicted to shopping.
Addictive behavior takes many forms, from substance abuse to spending entirely too much time on the internet. According to a report from the Examiner, however, it’s also possible to become addicted to shopping. A new study from researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway, The U.K., and the United States have described a test that can predict whether or not a person is addicted to shopping.
Cecile Schou Andreasson, a doctor of psychology and clinical psychologist at the University of Bergen says the test can determine whether a person is an addictive shopper in just minutes. The test was reported in the September 29 edition of the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Early test results show that women are more likely to become addicted to shopping than men. “It is more predominant in women, and is typically initiated in late adolescence and emerging adulthood, and it appears to decrease with age,” Dr. Andreassen says. The addiction is paired with neuroticism, depression, and anxiety, and people suffering from these conditions are much more likely to develop an addiction to shopping.
Extroverts are also more likely to become addicted to spending cash, which suggests that the preoccupation with shopping can be indicative of low self esteem.
The test, called the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale, can determine a person’s likelihood of becoming an addictive shopper with just six simple questions, to be answered on a spectrum of “completely agree” to “completely disagree.” The questions ask how often a person thinks about shopping, whether or not it alters their mood, if they put off other responsibilities to go shopping, whether or not they are able to stop shopping after reaching excessive levels, and whether or not it affects their overall well being.
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