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Applying attachment theory to indecisiveness in hoarding disorder
Cassandra Crone1, Cathy Kwok1, Vivian Chau1
1Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University; Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
Psychiatry Research
|January 25, 2019
Summary
Anxious attachment styles contribute to indecisiveness in individuals with discarding difficulties, primarily through heightened emotional reactivity. Treatment for hoarding disorder should address attachment and emotional regulation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Individuals experiencing distress when discarding possessions often exhibit indecisiveness.
- These individuals report heightened emotional responses and lower distress tolerance during discarding tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if insecure attachment styles contribute to indecisiveness in individuals with discarding difficulties.
- To determine if emotional reactivity and distress intolerance mediate the relationship between attachment style and indecisiveness.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 156 participants with significant discarding problems.
- Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing hoarding severity, attachment styles, emotional reactivity, distress intolerance, and indecisiveness.
Main Results:
- Anxious attachment was significantly associated with greater indecisiveness.
- Emotional reactivity mediated the link between anxious attachment and indecisiveness.
- Avoidant attachment did not show a significant relationship with indecisiveness.
Conclusions:
- Anxious attachment plays a role in indecisiveness among individuals with discarding difficulties, mediated by emotional reactivity.
- Clinical interventions for hoarding disorder should consider attachment styles and target emotional reactivity through methods like discarding exposures.
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