Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2025
08:58
Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants
Published on: July 29, 2019
6.8K
The generational impact of household clutter
Caitlyn A Nix1, Mary E Dozier1
1Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USA.
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|December 8, 2022
Summary
Growing up with parental clutter significantly impacts adult children
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Mental Health
- Family Studies
Background:
- Hoarding disorder presents long-term challenges for adult children.
- The psychosocial effects of childhood exposure to cluttered homes are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of generational clutter (parental and grandparental) on adult self-reported hoarding severity.
- To examine the impact of generational clutter on psychiatric and psychosocial functioning in adults.
Main Methods:
- 1306 adults completed an online survey assessing hoarding, anxiety, depression, and social support.
- A subsample (n=198) reported on household clutter from parents and grandparents, and family impact.
- Statistical analyses included correlations, t-tests, regressions, and mediation analyses.
Main Results:
- Parental clutter level was a significant predictor of adult hoarding symptoms.
- Elevated clutter in caregivers was associated with lower overall psychosocial functioning in participants.
- Family accommodation behaviors related to hoarding symptoms predicted participant hoarding severity.
Conclusions:
- Parental clutter and family accommodation behaviors may increase the risk for future hoarding in adult children.
- Further research is needed to confirm the association between childhood clutter exposure and increased risk for hoarding symptoms in offspring.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Fundamental Attribution Error
12.9K
According to some social psychologists, people tend to overemphasize internal factors as explanations—or attributions—for the behavior of other people. They tend to assume that the behavior of another person is a trait of that person, and to underestimate the power of the situation on the behavior of others. They tend to fail to recognize when the behavior of another is due to situational variables, and thus to the person’s state. This erroneous assumption is...
12.9K
01:28Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
182
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
182
01:24Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive
120
Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle...
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle...
120
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
145
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
145
01:27Parenting Styles
107
Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
107
02:31Habitat Fragmentation
17.7K
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
17.7K