Women with compulsive buying or gambling disorder: Similar profiles for different behavioural addictions

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the differences in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 104 women diagnosed with compulsive buying behaviour (CBB = 55) or gambling disorder (GD = 49) treated at three public hospitals unit specialized in behavioural addictions from January 2004 to December 2015. Significant between-group differences in sociodemographic variables were observed for cohabitation status (living with a partner or not) and educational level, with a higher percentage of women in the GD group cohabiting (х2 (1), p = .029). By contrast, the CBB group had a significantly higher educational level (х2 (1) = 7.4, p = .007). There were no significant differences between the groups in age of onset, age at treatment initiation, age at the onset of behavioural problems, or in the years elapsed until presenting addiction problems. However, there were significant between-group differences in the amount of money spent weekly (F (1.100) = 4.9, p = .028), with women in the CBB group spending on average €289.4/week (SD, 412.4) versus €151/week (SD, 141.23) in the GD group. The CBB group had significantly more depressive disorders compared to the GD group (х2 (1) = 5.4, p = .020). In contrast, the GD group presented significantly more tobacco use than the CBB group (х2 (1) = 1.19, p = .000). This study suggests that women with CBB or GD share more characteristics than differences and the treatment approaches must take into account gender related factors.