The Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Materialism and Compulsive Buying

Abstract

Drawing on the escape theory, we propose that emotional
intelligence is negatively linked to materialism and
compulsive buying. Our research demonstrates that the
ability to manage one's emotions is associated with lower
levels of materialism and compulsive buying. We also show
that materialism functions as the mechanism underlying the
emotional intelligence – compulsive buying relationship.
Similarly, the ability to understand one's emotions was found
to be negatively related to compulsive buying. Contrary to
expectations, the path between the understanding of one's
emotions and materialism was found to be non-significant,
suggesting that the link between emotional intelligence and
materialism might not always be direct. As expected,
materialism was positively linked to compulsive buying. Our
research contributes to the relevant literature with a new
antecedent of materialism, namely emotional intelligence.