According to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology, shopping addiction in women could be a potential sign of depression as women who have low-self esteem and are depressive employ this as a means to escape feeling depressive.

Girls are born shopaholics; however, if a girl's visits to malls are overtly more than usual then it could be a symptom of depression is what the researchers say. Researchers also believe that shopping could also be an addiction just like drug, alcohol, or other addictions.

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"We found that shopping addiction is related to symptoms of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Although shopping addiction may also lead to such symptoms," said clinical psychologist Cecilie Schou Andreassen from the faculty of psychology at University of Bergen in Norway.

Addictive shopping clearly occurs more regularly amongst certain demographic groups. It is more predominant in women, and is typically initiated in late adolescence and emerging adulthood, and it appears to decrease with age, Andreassen stated in Business Standard.

Researchers found that people who score high on extroversion and neuroticism are more likely develop shopping addiction.

While comparing shopping habits of an extrovert and a neurotic individual, Andreassen indicated that while extroverts shop to enhance their social status and personal attractiveness, a neurotic individual may use it as a means to cope up with her anxiety, depression, and self-consciousness.

Financial Express reports that scrupulous individuals who like new and intellectual stimuli are at less risk of getting addicted to shopping.

To measure the addiction of shopping scientists have developed the first of its kind 'The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale' based on core addiction elements recognized as diagnostic criteria.

TagsShopping And Depression, Shopping Addiction, Addictive Shopping, Sign Of Depression, Shopaholism And Depression