Compulsive Consumption Clinical Screener

What it measures

The original and most-cited clinical classification tool for compulsive buying. Uses a weighted logistic regression algorithm — a score <=–1.34 classifies an individual as a compulsive buyer. Correctly classifies approximately 88% of respondents. Compulsive buyers show lower self-esteem, higher obsessive-compulsiveness, higher fantasy, higher guilt, and higher materialism than general consumers. About 6% of general population samples are classified as compulsive buyers.

Response format

Items 1,2,4,5,6,7: 5-point very often to never; item 3: 5-point strongly agree to strongly disagree. Weighted algorithm score for classification. Lower scores = greater compulsivity.

Scale items

• Bought things even though I couldn't afford them.
• Felt others would be horrified if they knew of my spending habits.
• If I have any money left at the end of the pay period, I just have to spend it.
• Made only the minimum payments on my credit cards.
• Bought myself something in order to make myself feel better.
• Wrote a check when I knew I didn't have enough money in the bank to cover it.
• Felt anxious or nervous on days I didn't go shopping.

Full scale items shown. Always cite the original source when using this scale in research.

Usage notes & scoring

Classification algorithm: -9.69 + (Q3x0.33) + (Q2x0.34) + (Q1x0.50) + (Q6x0.47) + (Q5x0.33) + (Q9x0.38) + (Q4x0.31). Score <=–1.34 = compulsive buyer. Lower scores = greater compulsivity. The 14-item initial scale (1989) can be scored as an unweighted sum (range 14–76) with threshold <=42.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Faber, R.J., & O'Guinn, T.C. (1992). A clinical screener for compulsive buying. Journal of Consumer Research, 19(3), 459–469.

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