The Effects of Stress and Human Capital Perspective on Compulsive Buying: A Life Course Study in India

Abstract

Compulsivity is a topic of interest among researchers, academicians and policy makers, particularly because previous studies reveal that it can influence consumer behaviour and well-being. However, researchers have not got clear-cut picture of this phenomenon. Here, authors have used an individuals’ life course paradigm as an integrative framework and derives hypothesis from two theoretical perspective (stress and human capital perspective), and uses a survey of adolescents (15–18) years in India to test the hypotheses. This article endeavours to contribute to the knowledge by suggesting that these two theoretical perspectives can provide an integrative, multi-theoretical structure by which these important phenomena might be better explained and predicted. The results indicate that one’s experience and events in earlier adolescence period are related to their compulsive buying behaviour in late adolescence period. Here, authors have developed a framework to elucidate them, and have discussed implications and future research.