The purpose of our research is to investigate whether a relationship exists between life status changes, negative emotional state, and compensatory consumption among college students. Undergraduates from four states completed a questionnaire which assessed the degree to which they were experiencing both life status changes and negative emotional state, as well as the degree to which they engage in compensatory consumption behavior. Results indicated that students experiencing life status changes were more likely to engage in compensatory consumption. Both degree of life status changes and negative emotional state were positively related to compensatory consumption. (Contains 1 table.)