Attitudes to possessions in emerging adults: Predictors of hoarding behaviours and beliefs

Although hoarding symptoms are chronic and the average onset is late adolescence, younger cohorts have received little attention in research. Given the insidious symptom trajectory of hoarding and the unsatisfactory treatment outcomes in clinical groups, comprehensive research focusing on younger participants may reveal insights and suggest early intervention opportunities.

Cross-sectional data were collected online from an emerging adult sample.

A total of 316 participants (aged 18-25) reported on hoarding symptoms, executive functioning, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, autism traits, obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, social anxiety, psychological distress, emotion regulation, interpersonal attachment, and traumatic life events. Principal component analysis was used to cluster the data into underlying components.

Regression analysis showed that self-reported executive control problems and negative emotional response are the key predictors of hoarding behaviours, with compulsivity and decisional impulsivity also being significant contributors. Importantly, the interaction between the two key predictors was not significant (β = .05, p = .273), implying independent contributions. Additionally, compulsivity, executive control and traumatic life events contributed to hoarding-related beliefs.

Difficulties in executive control, as noted in ADHD, would be an important target in the detection and intervention of hoarding symptoms among younger cohorts. Caution in the assessment of clutter in young people is needed as their control over common residential areas might be limited.