Adult offspring perspectives on parental hoarding behaviors

Hoarding disorder (HD) is characterized by difficulty discarding unneeded items and the accumulation of items within living spaces and is associated with significant functional impairment and distress. Along with the negative impact of hoarding on the individual, HD is substantially impairing for family members, and linked to disruptions in family functioning. The present study utilized a path model analysis to examine the associations between an array of hoarding variables hypothesized to impact family functioning and parent-offspring relationships in 150 adult-aged children of hoarders who responded to online requests to participate in a research study. It was hypothesized that increased hoarding severity, decreased insight, and increased family accommodation (i.e., act of family members facilitating or assisting in hoarding behaviors) would be associated with decreased family functioning, decreased quality of parent-offspring relationships, and increased offspring impairment. Results from the path model revealed that family functioning mediated the relationship between hoarding severity and parent-offspring relationship. Diminished insight in the hoarding parent (as reported by the offspring) was associated with increased familial conflict and family functioning partially mediated the relationship between insight and quality of parent-offspring relationship. Increased family accommodation was significantly associated with increased impairment (work, social, and family domains) in offspring of hoarders.