Shopping for More Than One is Hard
LIFESTYLE
12/11/2025
A1–A2 Level
Vocabulary
anxiety (noun) — a feeling of worry or nervousness.
Example: She felt anxiety before her exam.
confidence (noun) — the belief that you can do something well.
Example: I lost confidence after making many mistakes.
rank (verb) — to put things in order of importance.
Example: Students were asked to rank the movies from best to worst.
sense (noun) — a strong feeling or emotion.
Example: I had a sense of happiness during the holiday.
responsibility (noun) — something you must do or take care of.
Example: It is your responsibility to clean your room.
considered (adjective) — carefully thought about.
Example: She gave a considered answer after thinking for a moment.
Article
Shopping for Two Is Stressful, Says Study
A new study says that buying something you will share with another person causes more anxiety than buying something just for yourself. It also says that people feel less confident when choosing items that others will use.
Researchers studied three kinds of shopping: buying for yourself, buying a gift, and buying something to share.
More than 2,000 people were asked to rank their anxiety in different situations, like choosing drinks for a meeting, snacks for a movie, or activities for a trip.
The study showed that buying something to share makes people feel more nervous than the other two types of shopping.
This happens because people must think about their own preferences and someone else's preferences. They feel more responsibility and worry about choosing the wrong thing.
The anxiety is worse when they don’t know what the other person likes.
One researcher said the stress comes from the extra emotional weight of responsibility, not from how hard the decision is.
The study also said that learning the other person’s preferences helps reduce anxiety. But it does not help if their preferences are very different from yours.
The researchers also said that answers like “I don’t care” or “Get whatever you like” actually increase stress. It’s better to give a clear, considered answer.
Comprehension Questions
What causes more anxiety: buying for yourself or buying something to share?
Why do people feel more responsibility when shopping for shared items?
Why is saying “I don’t care” not helpful?
Personal Questions (15)
Do you feel stressed when buying things for others?
Do you prefer buying items just for yourself?
Have you ever worried about choosing the wrong item?
Do you ask people what they like before shopping?
Do your friends give clear answers about their preferences?
What do you like shopping for the most?
Do you enjoy buying snacks for group activities?
Do you feel confident when choosing gifts?
Do you think shopping is fun or stressful?
Do you shop online or in stores more?
Do you think you are easy to shop for?
Would you tell someone exactly what you want as a gift?
Do you feel responsibility when choosing food for others?
Do you worry about making the wrong choice?
What is the last thing you bought that you shared with someone?
Comprehension Answers (A1–A2)
Buying something to share.
They must think about their own and other people’s preferences.
Because it increases the shopper’s anxiety.
B1–B2 Level
Vocabulary
anxiety — strong feelings of worry or nervous tension.
Example: She felt anxiety while trying to choose the right gift.
confidence — belief in your ability to make good decisions.
Example: His confidence dropped when others questioned his choices.
rank — to list things by level or importance.
Example: They were asked to rank the snacks from healthiest to least healthy.
sense — a particular emotion or impression.
Example: He felt a sense of pressure when buying something for a group.
responsibility — a duty to do something correctly or carefully.
Example: She felt responsibility when choosing drinks for the meeting.
considered — thought about with care and attention.
Example: He gave a considered reply after thinking for a long time.
Article
Shopping for Shared Items Causes More Stress, Study Shows
A recent study shows that buying something meant for shared use creates more anxiety than shopping for yourself or even buying a gift. It also reduces confidence in your own ability to choose well.
The research, published in the Journal of Marketing Research, compared three shopping scenarios: buying for yourself, buying a gift for someone else, and buying something you will share.
Over 2,000 participants were asked to rank their anxiety levels in various situations — choosing drinks for a meeting, snacks for a movie night, wine for a party, or even making choices about travel activities.
The results were clear: shopping for shared use generated the highest levels of anxiety.
Researchers explained that this happens because people must consider both their own preferences and the preferences of others. This creates a sense of responsibility that leads to increased worry about making the wrong choice.
The anxiety becomes even stronger when the other person’s preferences are unknown — or are expected to differ from the shopper’s own.
One author, Margaret Campbell, said the anxiety does not depend on how difficult the decision is, but on the emotional responsibility behind the choice.
The study also suggests that learning about the other person’s preferences can reduce anxiety and boost confidence. However, if preferences differ greatly, this still doesn’t help.
Finally, responses like “I don’t care” or “Get whatever you like” actually increase the shopper’s stress. The researchers recommend providing a clear and considered answer instead.
Comprehension Questions
What three types of shopping did the study compare?
Why does buying shared items cause more stress?
Why do vague answers like “I don’t care” increase anxiety?
Personal Questions (15)
Do you enjoy buying items for group use, or do you find it stressful?
When shopping for others, whose preferences do you consider first?
Do you think people are honest about their preferences?
Which shopping situations make you feel responsible?
How confident are you in choosing shared snacks or drinks?
Do you think knowing someone’s preferences actually helps?
Have you ever chosen something that others didn’t like?
Do you prefer choosing alone or asking others for input?
Are you good at choosing items for events or gatherings?
Do you know people who always say “anything is fine”?
Does that make decisions harder for you?
What type of shopping gives you the most anxiety?
What type of shopping gives you the most confidence?
How do you react when people dislike what you choose?
Would you rather make decisions alone or share the responsibility?
Comprehension Answers (B1–B2)
Buying for yourself, buying a gift, and buying something to share.
Because people must consider both their own and others’ preferences.
Because they add emotional pressure and make the decision feel riskier.
C1–C2 Level
Vocabulary
anxiety — persistent worry or nervous tension, often linked to decision-making.
Example: Choosing for a group can provoke significant anxiety.
confidence — trust in one’s decision-making capability.
Example: Conflicting opinions lowered her confidence in her final choice.
rank — to classify or order items based on specific criteria.
Example: Participants were asked to rank each shopping scenario by stress level.
sense — an emotional impression or intuitive feeling.
Example: He felt a strong sense of responsibility when choosing shared items.
responsibility — the obligation to make choices that affect others.
Example: The responsibility of representing everyone’s preferences can be stressful.
considered — resulting from thoughtful, deliberate decision-making.
Example: She offered a considered explanation of why she preferred one option.
Article
Shared Shopping Decisions Trigger Elevated Anxiety, According to Research
A recent study reveals that purchasing items intended for shared use produces significantly higher anxiety than either buying for oneself or selecting a gift. Furthermore, it diminishes shoppers’ confidence in their ability to make appropriate choices.
Published in the Journal of Marketing Research, the study distinguished among three shopping contexts: self-purchases, gift buying, and choosing items for collective use.
More than 2,000 participants were instructed to rank their anxiety levels across a spectrum of scenarios, including choosing healthy beverages for a meeting, selecting snacks for a film, picking wine for a social event, and making more complex travel-related decisions.
The results were decisive: shared purchases consistently generated the greatest anxiety.
Researchers concluded that the increased stress stems from having to account for multiple preferences — one’s own and those of others — creating a heightened sense of responsibility. This emotional burden, rather than the complexity of the decision itself, drives the anxiety.
Uncertainty about the other person’s preferences intensifies the pressure, particularly when the shopper anticipates different or incompatible tastes.
One study author, Margaret Campbell, emphasized that the “emotional weight of responsibility” is the core problem, not the cognitive difficulty of the task.
While learning more about the other person’s preferences can partially reduce anxiety, it offers little relief if preferences clash.
Additionally, when a shopper asks for input, responses such as “I don’t care” or “Whatever you choose” paradoxically increase anxiety. According to the researchers, such replies force the shopper to bear the full responsibility of the decision, rather than sharing it — making a clear, considered answer far more helpful.
Comprehension Questions
According to the study, what distinguishes shared-use shopping from gift buying or self-purchases?
Why does uncertainty about another person’s preferences intensify anxiety?
Why are vague responses like “Get whatever you like” counterproductive?
Personal Questions (15)
Do you find group-oriented decisions more stressful than individual ones?
How do you typically balance your preferences with those of others?
Does responsibility enhance or limit your enjoyment of shopping?
Are you more anxious when choosing consumable items or long-term items for others?
How do conflicting preferences affect your decision-making?
Do you view shared shopping as a negotiation or a burden?
Have you ever felt pressured to meet everyone’s expectations?
How do you handle situations where no choice satisfies everyone?
Do vague answers from others frustrate you or give you freedom?
How does emotional responsibility affect your confidence?
Do you think people underestimate the stress their unclear answers create?
Should shoppers ask for detailed preferences or make independent choices?
How do you interpret social pressure in shared decisions?
Does understanding psychology help reduce your shopping anxiety?
What strategies could improve your shared shopping experiences?
Comprehension Answers (C1–C2)
It requires balancing both personal and others’ preferences, creating greater emotional responsibility.
Because it increases the likelihood of making a choice that others may dislike.
Because they shift all responsibility onto the shopper, increasing emotional pressure.
