Pattern of panic-buying and its psychosocial correlates among Pakistani adults during COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

  • Kiran Abbas Department of Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Amber Tahir Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Aleena A. Raza Department of Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan
  • F. N. U. Amreek Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Jaish Kumar Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
  • F. N. U. Sakshi Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences, Nawabshah, Pakistan
  • F. N. U. Aakash Department of Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Fahham Asghar Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Inam U. Haq Department of Medicine, Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20205290

Keywords:

COVID-19, Hoarding, SARS-COV, Self-interest, Pandemic, Panic-buying

Abstract

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, one bizarre yet ubiquitous human behavior has resurfaced. Globally, people have engaged in panic buying and hoarding (PBH). This irrational practice of panic buying is driven by deficient, manipulated news amid COVID-19 crisis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with Pakistani adults (≤18 years). Data was collected through an anonymous self-reported online survey from 17th April 2020 (0800 hours) through 20th April 2020 (2200 hours) via social media platforms. The survey consisted of sociodemographic characteristics, questions regarding food/essential supplies PBH and its psychosocial correlates- attitudes about COVID-19 severity (CA), values related to social responsibility (SR), social trust (ST), and self-interest (SI). Data was entered and analyzed using IBM Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.

Results: There were 786 participants in the survey; 59% were females. Mean age was 26.6±7.6 years. Mean PBH score was 2.31±0.85 (range: 1-5). Overall, 28.4% hoarded supplies a few times or more and 47% agreed to have bought more food/essential supplies due to COVID-19. Correlation analysis showed a 12.3% positive correlation of PBH with ST and 8.5% positive correlation with SI (p<0.05). In the multivariate regression model, PBH showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) positive impact on ST and SI.

Conclusions: More than one-fourth of the individuals indulged in panic buying and hoarding during the COVID-19 in Pakistan. Fear of contracting the virus and uncertainty about the duration of lockdown was the common reasons behind PBH. Social trust and self-interest were significant psychosocial contributors to hoarding behavior.  

References

Chen Y, Rajabifard A, Sabri S, Xie Y, Zhang Y. A discussion of irrational stockpiling behaviour during crisis. 2020;10.31235.

Taylor C. Here’s why people are panic buying and stockpiling toilet paper to cope with coronavirus fears. 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/11/heres-why-people-are-panic-buying-and-stockpiling-toilet-paper.html. Accessed on 19th April, 2020.

Zheng R, Shou B, Yang J. Supply disruption management under consumer panic buying and social learning effects. Omega. 2020;102238.

Yuen KF, Wang X, Ma F, Li KX. The Psychological Causes of Panic Buying Following a Health Crisis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17:35-13.

Bonneux L, Van Damme W. An iatrogenic pandemic of panic. BMJ. 2006;30;332:786-8.

Dholakia U. Why Are We Panic Buying During the Coronavirus Pandemic? The Science Behind Behavior. 2020. https://www.psychologytoday.com /sg/blog/ the-science-behind-behavior/202003/why-are-we-panic-buying-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic. Accessed on 19th April, 2020.

Towler A. Why the basic psychological needs autonomy, competence and relatedness matter in management and beyond. 2019. https://www.ckju.net/en/dossier/why-basic-psychological-needs-autonomy-competence-and-relatedness-matter-management-and-beyond#:~:text=The%20research%20on%20basic%20psychological,well-being%20in%20the%20workplace. Accessed on 19th April, 2020.

Dowle, J. Coronavirus: What are supermarkets doing to tackle stockpiling? 2020. https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/shopping/a31691200/uk-coronavirus-supermarkets-stockpiling. Accessed on 19th April, 2020.

Pan X, Mantin B, Dresner M. When the coronavirus gets tough, the tough get stockpiling. http://theconversation.com/when-the-coronavirus-gets-tough-the-tough-get-stockpiling-133419. Accessed on 19th April, 2020.

Scipioni J. Coronavirus stockpiling: Don’t waste your money on these items, according to a pandemic planner. 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/coronavirus-stockpiling-what-not-to-waste-money-on-pandemic-planner.html. Accessed on 19th April, 2020.

Oosterhoff B. Psychological correlates of news monitoring, social distancing, disinfecting, and hoarding behaviors among US adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020;10.31234.

Bonneux L, Van Damme W. An iatrogenic pandemic of panic. BMJ. 2006;332:786-88.

Godinic D, Obrenovic B, Khudaykulov A. Effects of Economic Uncertainty on Mental Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context: Social Identity Disturbance, Job Uncertainty and Psychological Well-Being Model. Int J Innov Econ Dev. 2020;6:61-74.

Mamun MA, Ullah I. COVID-19 suicides in Pakistan, dying off not COVID-19 fear but poverty?–The forthcoming economic challenges for a developing country. Brain Behav Immun. 2020;87:163-6.

Bekiempis V. “Could you buy a little less, please?”: panic-buying disrupts food distribution. 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/23/us-coronavirus-panic-buying-food. Accessed on 19th April, 2020.

Bell DR, Iyer G, Padmanabhan V. Price competition under stockpiling and flexible consumption. J Mark Res. 2002;39:292-303.

Zaidi SA. In: Short Notes on the Economy during the COVID-19 Crisis. 2020;1:10.2139.

Ano GG, Vasconcelles EB. Religious Coping and Psychological Adjustment to Stress: A Meta-Analysis. J Clin Psychol. 2005;61:461-80.

Naz L. COVID-19 and panic buying. https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/635420-covid-19-and-panic-buying. Accessed on 19th April, 2020.

Downloads

Published

2020-11-27

How to Cite

Abbas, K., Tahir, A., Raza, A. A., Amreek, F. N. U., Kumar, J., Sakshi, F. N. U., Aakash, F. N. U., Asghar, F., & Haq, I. U. (2020). Pattern of panic-buying and its psychosocial correlates among Pakistani adults during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 8(12), 4206–4211. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20205290

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles