Assessing the impact of socio-demographic factors on compulsive buying behavior in the UAE

Background: Compulsive buying is not officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder, but it is increasingly viewed as a public health concern due to its reported links with mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, and certain personality disorders. Its prevalence and impact may vary across demographic groups, particularly in rapidly modernizing societies such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Aims: This study aimed to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors including age, gender, income, nationality, and emirate of residence on compulsive buying behavior in the UAE. The goal of study is focused on considering its correlation with mental health related concerns. Methods: A survey from 395 participants conducted and responses gathered to the Richmond Compulsive Buying Scale. Correlations with age, gender, income, nationality and residence were investigated to assess the correlation. Results: The study found that the GCC nationals reported the highest RCBS scores for Dubai/Abu Dhabi with Mean = 22.1. The Welch’s t-tests confirmed that females (Mean = 17.4) scored significantly higher than males respondents with a Mean = 15.7; t (82.01) = 2.85, p = 0.006, Cohen’s d = 0.46, and GCC citizens (Mean = 19.4) scored substantially higher than individuals from the Rest of the World (Mean = 15.5; p < 0.001, t (91.23) = 1.62, d = 0.26). Moreover, residents of Dubai/Abu Dhabi (Mean = 18.0) had significantly higher RCBS scores than those in the Northern Emirates (Mean = 16.5; p = 0.009, t (94.15) = 0.51, d = 0.08). Odds ratio and regression analyses confirmed that GCC nationality and female gender were significant predictors of higher RCBS, while age and income showed weaker associations. Conclusion: Compulsive buying in the UAE is shaped by some demographic factors having higher vulnerability among women, GCC nationals, and residents of more urbanized emirates. These correlations highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing specific at-risk groups, while also considering family and socioeconomic contexts in future research.