Demystifying the Link Between Loneliness and Materialism: Mediating Roles of Emotion Regulation, Self-Enhancement, and Escapism

<p>Loneliness is widespread in the United States as an estimated 20% percent of adult consumers are affected by it. Loneliness may motivate individuals to compensate for their need of social fulfilment by consuming more goods and services which may lead to materialism. Though limited studies have examined the relationship between loneliness and materialism, this study views loneliness as a self-discrepancy and examines its influence on materialism through three mediators (emotion regulation, self-enhancement, escapism) within the perspective of compensatory consumer behavior. Results from this study contribute to the growing body of consumer behavior research on the psychological underpinnings of compensatory consumer behavior. Furthermore, it sheds light on how consumers seek to reduce their loneliness self-discrepancy through compensatory consumer behavior with the consumption outcome of materialism.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Marketing

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Business Administration

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• Billen, Christine

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Armen Tashchian
• Dr. David Burns
• Dr. Mona Sinha

• Loneliness
• Materialism
• Emotion Regulation
• Self-Enhancement
• Escapism
• Compensatory Consumer Behavior
• Marketing

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/phdba_etd/27

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:phdba_etd-1027