Consumer Well-being and Consumption Addictions: An Exploratory Examination

Consumption addiction, characterised by transforming ordinary behaviours into harmful patterns of dependency, is a largely unexplored topic in the marketing literature. This paper explores this concept and contributes to theoretical knowledge by examining the impact of consumption addiction on consumers' well-being, explicitly focusing on gambling (Study A) and online gaming disorder (Study B). It aims to establish connections between addictive consumption and different dimensions of well-being. In conclusion, gambling addiction and online gaming disorder are found to have a detrimental impact on consumers' well-being, emphasising the importance of establishing a socially sustainable gambling and gaming industry for individuals and society.