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Review Article
Volume 17 Issue 2 - October 2023
DOI: 10.19080/CRDOJ.2023.17.555957
Curr Res Diabetes Obes J
Copyright © All rights are reserved by Luísa Soares
Curr Res Diabetes Obes J 17(2): CRDOJ.MS.ID.555957 (2023) 001
Overconsumption and the Effects on Mental
Health and Well-Being: A Review
Luísa Soares* and Sara Moniz
University of Madeira, Portugal
Submission: October 09, 2023; Published: October 30, 2023
*Corresponding author: Luísa Soares, University of Madeira, Portugal, Email: lsoares17@hotmail.com
Abstract
Currently we live in a society of consumption and consuming is inevitable, but over consuming is a world problem and we argue it can be
prevented. The present consumer society contributes to the development of buying behaviors aimed at the possession of material goods, to
give, apparently, social status, success, and well-being [1]. This article aims to address overconsumption from a psychological view and the
repercussions of excessive buying behavior on mental health and personal well-being. “I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From
the very core of our being, we desire contentment. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness
on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.” Dalai Lama XIV [2].
Keywords: Overconsumption; Excessive buying behavior; Well-being; Mental health; over-indebtedness
Introduction
Over the past 100 years, consumption has been accepted as
a cultural means of seeking success, happiness, and the populist
notion of a good life [3]. As reported by Brewer & Porter [4] our
lives today are dominated by the material objects that proliferate
all around us, including the prospects and problems they afford.
In fact, the Industrial Revolution enabled the development of
new production techniques that promoted mass production and
technological advances that revolutionized the transport sector,
which was essential for better movement of goods and raw
materials and disposal of products. Advertising, marketing sales
technics and payment facilities incite consumption and make
individuals consume more than they really need, emerging the
society of consumption. Hence consumption starts to occupy a
central place in the lives of individuals [5].
Increased quantity of goods is a great advantage to consumers
to the extent that the need for disposal of products leads to
lowering prices. On the other hand, mass consumption and easy
access induce overconsumption, which is characterized by a set
of attitudes and behavior leading to unreasonable consumption
and unforeseen [5]. According to Elkins [6], overconsumption is
that the possession and use of many goods and services is the
main cultural aspiration being understood as the main way to
happiness, social status, and success. Several studies show that
excessive consumption has a negative impact, not only in terms
of individual well-being as environmentally (ex.: the overuse of
natural resources can lead to lack of resources). In these situations,
individuals act on impulse, carelessly consuming goods that they
do not need. Credit and payment facilities amplify the existence of
indiscriminate consumption and situations of over-indebtedness.
A small number of studies have been conducted on how
to motivate people to change their lifestyles and reduce
consumption in general. Excessive consumption can emerge from
several factors: personal, social, and cultural. Cultural factors
i.e., establish standards of rules and behaviors that individuals
of a given society should be governed. According to Soares et al.
[7] consumption is often motivated by personal factors such as
the need for acceptance. It has been created the illusion that
consuming without limits is synonymous with well-being and
civilization.” Other authors like Fabber suggests that excessive
consumption can result from the interaction of biological factors,
levels of materialism social factors and social acceptance. In fact,
the current consumer society contributes to the development of
buying behaviors aimed at the possession of material goods, to
give apparent status, success, and well-being [1].
002
Current Research in Diabetes & Obesity Journal
How to cite this article: Luísa S, Sara M. Overconsumption and the Effects on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Curre Res Diabetes &
Obes J 2023; 17(2): 555957.DOI: 10.19080/CRDOJ.2023.17.555957
Eects on Mental Well-Being
The relationship between materialism and well-being is
complex [3]. Previous studies sustain the idea that the relationship
between these two constructs depends on other factors like
religious orientation [8], family background and economic
resources [9]. Materialism is perceived as an important life value
[3] placed on the acquisition of material objects. Richins & Dawson
the importance of possessions in one’s life”. According to Rokeach
[11], a value is “a centrally held, enduring belief which guides
immediate goals to more ultimate end-states of existence.” Strong
materialistic values are negatively associated with subjective
develop strong materialistic values. The belief that well-being
can be enhanced through one’s relationship with objects is
one central characteristic of highly materialistic individuals.
Research suggests that these individuals are less happy and more
as depression and neuroticism compared with less materialistic
individuals [3].
Well-being consists in three components: cognitive evaluations
of the conditions of one’s life (e.g., overall life satisfaction); positive
affective states (e.g., happiness) and negative affective states
(e.g., depression;) [3]. According to Hoffmann & Lee [12] well-
being on a micro level includes happiness, life satisfaction, and
subjective and objective well-being oppositely to well-being on a
macro level which includes societal, environmental, and political
issues. Authors like Lee & Ahn [2] Iyer and Muncy [13] provided
of consumption, subjective well-being increases on the micro
level [12]. As stated by Lee & Ahn [2] in their research, “excessive
consumption negatively affects consumer well-being.”, although
ironically, consumers in developed countries still consider that the
primary source of happiness consists in the possession of material
goods [2]. In fact, materialistic consumers experience a lack of
control and autonomy in consumption. Studies demonstrate that
a greater level of control promotes self-determination and self-
actualization leading to a higher level of consumer well-being [2].
The authors consider that materialism cannot lead to an enduring
state of life satisfaction due to the process of hedonic adaptation.
According to literature, money can buy happiness only to a certain
point and consumer materialism is associated with lower levels of
subjective well-being [12].
Based on literature, the less materialistic people report,
the more life satisfaction. Accordingly with social scientists,
individuals who focus on the acquisition of material objects have
a reduced life satisfaction [10], diminished levels of happiness
[3], since it takes time away from the things that can nurture
happiness: comprising relationships, spend time with family
and friends. People with strong materialistic values appear to
have goal orientations that may lead to poorer well-being [14].
In Kasser’s book [14], “The High Price of Materialism”,” research
shows that “when people organize their lives around extrinsic
goals such as product acquisition, they report greater unhappiness
in relationships, poorer moods and more psychological problems”
[14]. Kasser [14] distinguishes extrinsic goals, which tend to
focus on possessions, image, status and receiving rewards and
praise from intrinsic ones, which aims at outcomes like personal
growth and community connection and are satisfying in and of
themselves [14].
Authors like Kasser & Ryan [15] propose that materialism (i.e.,
and promoting individual well-being. Also, individuals who aspire
and global function and higher levels of anxiety, depression,
and behavioral disorders than individuals who aspire to more
intrinsic goals. In a longitudinal study with adolescents about the
effects of materialism on well-being, Cohen & Cohen [9] found
that, adolescents’ esteem of materialism is associated with several
conduct disorder and narcissism.
It’s expected that individuals who hold oppositional values
Rokeach & Ball-Rokeach [11,16] emphasis that inconsistencies
in one’s value system decrease self-satisfaction and motivate
(and realignment) can be conceptually linked to classic cognitive
consistency theories, including balance theory of Heider
[3] and cognitive dissonance theory of Festinger [3]. Prior
the motives underlying more self-transcendent values such as
Psychological Clinical Aspects of Excessive
Consumption
Shopping experiences provide pleasure and relaxation,
although when excessive is a costly way of life [16]. Likewise
compulsive buyers organize their lives around shopping
experiences, promoting concerns that can lead to clinical
disorders. Compulsive buying disorders or “oniomania” are
not included in contemporary diagnostic systems, such as the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.;
10th edition [16]. Oniomania leads to irrational contraction of
debts, occupational, interpersonal, marriage, social, and spiritual
variables in impulsive buying behavior [17]. Edwards [16]
suggests that compulsive buying behavior is an “abnormal form
How to cite this article: Luísa S, Sara M. Overconsumption and the Effects on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Curre Res Diabetes &
Obes J 2023; 17(2): 555957.DOI: 10.19080/CRDOJ.2023.17.555957
003
Current Research in Diabetes & Obesity Journal
an overpowering uncontrollable, chronic and repetitive urge to
shop and spend (that functions) as a means of alleviating negative
feelings of stress and anxiety” (p.67). According to Rook & Fisher
[18], the impulsive buying is the “consumer tendency to buy
physical proximity of the desired object, dominated by emotional
(p.306).
In fact, Rook [19] postulates that impulsive buying is
i. Spontaneity, which is characterized by the sudden need to act
triggered by a visual stimulus (e.g.: a promotional activity).
ii. The feeling of psychological imbalance caused by the
intensity of the desire to suddenly acquire a product.
iii.
when considering receiving a direct reward from their
impulsiveness and on the other hand, the negative
consequences that may arise from the purchase impulsively.
iv. Decreased cognitive ability to make assessments, which
begins with the intensity of consumer´s emotional stages
v. Disregard of the consequences resulting on anxiety caused
by impulsiveness, since the consumer does not perform a
careful evaluation of the purchase alternatives, disregarding
the possible consequences of the purchase (mainly negative).
In accordance with a study performed by Lin & Chuang [20]
which aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional
intelligence and impulse buying in Taiwanese adolescents, it was
found that adolescents with low emotional intelligence were more
likely to carry out impulsive purchases, pointing to emotional
arousal as an important factor of mediation between emotional
intelligence and impulse buying behavior. Furthermore, one study
in Portugal on impulse buying also show that there is a negative
correlation between impulsive buying and self-esteem [21].
Additionally, and according to Dittmar & Kasser [22], high levels
of materialism are associated with low levels of psychological
well-being and satisfaction with life.
Factors that Inuence Impulsive Buying
gender differences in buying behavior [23], Otnes & McGrath,
2001. The literature shows differences between men and women
about intentions, values, decision-making, processes related to
the purchase, information processing, types of items purchased,
what to buy, feelings and emotions in the act of buying, attitudes
towards consumption and time spent shopping [24]. According
relationship between individual differences and the tendency
to impulsive buying. A study by Silvera & Kropp [26] has shown
that, women tend to buy more by impulse than men. The sex
habits of men and women [19]. Another variable that is related
to impulsive buying is the family income since the greater
to make impulsive purchases [27]. Research into social practices
shows that malls and shopping centers are places with physical
structures oriented to hedonic buying behavior [17] and that a
person tends to buy on impulse more easily, by being in a shopping
center [17].
behavior. Social media allows consumers to share their shopping
experiences, being that shared content has a strong impact on
purchase intentions of users [17]. Holbrook & Hirschman [28]
emphasized the importance of intangible and subjective aspects
that are part of the purchase act (for example, emotional, fantasy
and direct experience with the product at point of sale). Thus,
owning a product is directly related to impulse buying [6], the
pleasure in shopping is possibly the most strongly related factor
to the impulsive buying [17]. Therefore, consumers who have the
greatest tendency to carry out impulse purchases are those who
are driven by hedonic desires or non-economic reasons, such as
fun, social, or emotional satisfaction [29]. The brand, more than
a symbol, is the representation of a value behind that symbol.
Brands can be interpreted as a synonym of prestige, status, group
identity and the feeling of belonging [17]. Also, when consumers
make purchases in the company of other people they tend to
spend more [30] and tend to make more unplanned purchases
consumers [17] since products and their brands represent social
and cultural values of the consumer [17]. About impulsive buying,
materialism appears as a prominent value [17].
Final Considerations
Overconsumption is an overviewed problem with big
repercussions to personal well-being, since it might repress the
psychological needs, leading to serious mental health disorders
if not intervened correctly. Nowadays there is still no standard
approach for treating compulsive buying disorder [32]. The use
of information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be
advantageous in promoting more conscious and prudent buying
behavior [33]. In addition to interactivity with technology,
persuasion methods can be personalized to individual needs,
allowing interventions at critical decision-making points [33].
I. E-health is a recent term for healthcare practice
supported by electronic processes, communication, functions,
and services involved in the health sector [34]. The main tools of
E-health consist of health information networks, digital records,
telemedicine services, health portals, personal devices that
monitor patients and devices that fall in support for prevention,
004
Current Research in Diabetes & Obesity Journal
How to cite this article: Luísa S, Sara M. Overconsumption and the Effects on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Curre Res Diabetes &
Obes J 2023; 17(2): 555957.DOI: 10.19080/CRDOJ.2023.17.555957
diagnostic process, treatments, and the subsequent monitoring
that could be very useful for people who suffers from compulsive
buying disorders. As reported by Espanha [35] communication
plays an important role in health by improving health care in
cases of chronic and acute diseases, and promoting the reduction
their health care and the promotion of health and prevention.
In agreement with Varela [36] information and knowledge
about mental and physical health is a strong social component,
through the dissemination of more and better knowledge,
promoting awareness [37-45].
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