Are you a Compulsive Buyer Volunteers Needed for a Research Stud (Greensboro, NC)

Are you a Compulsive Buyer Volunteers Needed for a Research Stud

Individuals 18 years old or older suffering from compulsive buying are needed to volunteer for a research study. THE STUDY The purpose of the study is to develop an in-depth understanding of the compulsive buying experience. The focus is on the role of appearance-related products such as clothing shoes makeup and jewelry relative to this experience. Participants in the study will be asked to engage in a minimum of five in-depth interviews regarding their shopping buying behaviors and experiences for appearance-related products. Each interview will last from 1 to 3 hours. Participants will also be asked to keep a shopping journal for a period of four weeks. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE Individuals 18 years old or older who consider their shopping and buying behavior to be extreme to the extent that it is significantly affecting his or her everyday life. CONTACT INFORMATION If you are interested in taking part in the study or if you would like to receive more information about it please contact us. Help us learn more about this consumption behavior by volunteering to participate in this study. The first step will only take a few minutes. WHAT IS COMPULSIVE BUYING Compulsive buying is a disorder that affects approximately 19 million Americans. It refers to the excessive and repetitive purchasing of goods in response to negative feelings or emotions. This behavior causes major distress and negative consequences such as substantial debt bankruptcy and familial and marital problems. Research indicates that individuals suffering from this extreme form of buying behavior experience extreme preoccupation with shopping and buying shop for longer periods of time than intended and buy more than they can afford. Items purchased are typically never used but left in the original package or shopping bag. A series of screening measures will be administered to determine if you meet the criteria to participate in the study. That is you will be asked to engage in a phone screening interview and in a one-on-one screening interview (interviews can also be done online through software such as Skype or Google Hangout). Compulsive buying should represent the major issue thus individuals being diagnosed with bipolar disorder are not eligible to take part in the study as bipolar disorder may lead to inappropriate buying and spending particularly when in manic stage and therefore might represent compulsive buying as a secondary rather than primary disorder. THIS IS A DISSERTATION RESEARCH. APPROVED IRB 11 05 14. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO