Am I a compulsive shopper? Take the test at the private practice of online psychologist Patric Pförtner.
Psychologist Patric Pförtner

Patric Pförtner

M.Sc. Psychologist, Doctoral Researcher

Test: Shopping Addiction (Compulsive Buying Disorder)

Shopping addiction is a behavioural addiction in which sufferers feel an uncontrollable urge to buy. Often it's less about the items themselves and more about the act of shopping and the short-term emotional relief it provides.

Typical signs of shopping addiction can include:

  • frequent, uncontrollable shopping without real need,
  • shopping as a strategy to cope with stress or improve mood,
  • guilt and shame after buying sprees,
  • financial problems caused by excessive buying.

With this test you can assess whether your shopping behaviour may have problematic features. Both emotional and behavioural aspects are considered.

Originally written in German — read the original here: Kaufsucht-Test.

Shopping Addiction Test: 15 Questions

All questions refer to the last 14 days. The answer options are scaled like a grading system — the first option counts as one point, the last as five. Choose one answer per question and click Evaluate Now at the end.

1. Do you use shopping to distract yourself from stress or problems?

2. When shopping, do you often spend more than you planned?

3. Do you buy things you don't really need, or more than necessary?

4. Do you have difficulty keeping your purchases in line with your budget?

5. Do you feel a strong urge to go shopping, even when there's no special reason?

6. After shopping, do you often feel dissatisfied or regret your purchases?

7. Do you sometimes hide new purchases from others or not use them?

8. Do you often think about what you could buy next?

9. Do you become nervous or restless when you can't shop for a long time?

10. Do you sometimes shop even when you know it exceeds your financial means?

11. Do you sometimes feel after shopping that you did something wrong?

12. Do you recognise yourself in conflicts with family or friends about your shopping?

13. Does shopping distract you so much that other interests or responsibilities suffer?

14. Do you believe your life would be less fulfilling without regular shopping?

15. Do you often look back at your purchases and wonder why you bought them?

This online screening is not a diagnostic tool. Only a trained medical professional — such as a doctor, psychiatrist or psychotherapist — can advise you on the next steps.

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"Most arguments aren't the argument you think you're having."
"Trust doesn't grow through words. It grows through repetition."
"A strong relationship isn't one without conflict — it's one where you find your way back."
Psychologist Patric Pförtner is a registered full member of the BDP

Quality seal for psychological counselling awarded by the Professional Association of German Psychologists (BDP).

 Registered full member of the BDP

Registered full member of the Professional Association of German Psychologists (BDP).

 Online psychological counselling quality seal

For my work, the BDP has awarded me the "Counselling by Psychologists" quality mark.