An investigation of the impact of social exclusion on attachment to possessions and saving behaviors

Abstract

Background and objectivesHoarding disorder (HD) is a debilitating mental illness characterized by extreme difficulty parting with possessions and clutter that can result in dangerous living conditions. One hypothesis about why individuals with HD save possessions is that they possess a pathological attachment to their belongings, which may serve to compensate for unfulfilling interpersonal relationships. However, there is a dearth of empirical work examining this. The current study examined the impact of an experimental manipulation of social exclusion on attachment to possessions and saving behaviors in a sample of individuals with elevated hoarding symptoms. MethodsParticipants (n = 117) were selected for scoring above the non-clinical mean on a measure of hoarding symptoms. Participants were randomized to either be included or excluded in a game of Cyberball. They completed a behavioral discarding task and object attachment measure before and after completion of the game. ResultsStudy condition was unrelated to in vivo attachment to possessions and saving behaviors during the discarding task. However, a post hoc mediation model showed that greater feelings of rejection, regardless of condition, were associated with greater in vivo attachment to possessions and subsequent number of items saved during the lab task. LimitationsLimitations include the use of a non-clinical and homogeneous sample. ConclusionsTaken together, individuals prone to feelings of rejection may be at risk for developing HD as they may use possessions to cope with interpersonal stress. Results will be discussed in light of implications for theoretical models and potential treatment targets in HD.