Effects of Self-Esteem and Coping Skills on Compulsive Buying in Patients with Major Depression: The Moderator Role of Temperament and Character

Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between self-esteem, coping strategies, and compulsive buying behavior in depressed patients, and its potential connection to temperament character traits. Materials and Methods: 106 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and 98 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Compulsive Buying Scale (CBS), Compulsive Online Buying Scale (COBS), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced-R (COPE-R), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were applied to the participants. Results: A significant difference was found in patients with depression in terms of compulsive buying, coping skills, and self-esteem compared to the control group. In addition, the difference between the total scores of the temperament dimensions of harm avoidance, novelty seeking, persistence, and the character dimensions of self-directedness and cooperativeness was found to be significant. There are two models in the study. The first one revealed that depression severity does not have a direct influence on compulsive buying behavior. Instead, self-esteem and coping skills indirectly impact compulsive buying behavior. The second model indicated that temperament and character traits significantly contribute to coping and self-esteem, regardless of the severity of depression. Conclusion: The presence and severity of compulsive buying behavior in patients with depression can be interpreted as an indicator of decreased self-esteem and frequently used maladaptive coping mechanisms.