low self-esteem & materialism go hand in hand...

researchers have found that low self-esteem and materialism are not just a correlation, but also a causal relationship where low self esteem increases materialism, and materialism can also create low self-esteem. the study also found that as self esteem increases, materialism decreases... by the time children reach early adolescence, and experience a decline in self-esteem, the stage is set for the use of material possessions as a coping strategy for feelings of low self-worth... the paradox that findings such as these bring up, is that consumerism is good for the economy but bad for the individual. in the short run, it’s good for the economy when young people believe they need to buy an entirely new wardrobe every year, for example. but the hidden cost is much higher than the dollar amount. there are costs in happiness when people believe that their value is extrinsic. there are also environmental costs associated with widespread materialism// rebecca sato, 01.30.09, the daily galaxy

...for a more detailed study of the subject, read the high price of materialism by tim kasser//