Buried in stigma: Experimental investigation of the impact of hoarding depictions in reality television on public perception

Abstract

Hoarding disorder (HD) has been newly classified as a distinct mental disorder and is a considerable public health concern. Treatment ambivalence is a problem in this clinical population, and stigma of HD may be one potential factor contributing to an unwillingness to seek treatment. Stigma of HD is understudied, despite the media often perpetuating severe and negative representations of individuals with HD. This study is the first to investigate experimentally the impact of a popular reality television show on attitudes and beliefs about individuals with HD. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions that randomized them to watch television shows with either low, medium, or high clutter depictions. Participant attitudes were evaluated before and after viewing. Results showed that participants who viewed A&E's Hoarders had higher increases in indices of stigma, including social distance (d = 1.18), difference (d = 0.63), and social restrictiveness (d = 0.94) when compared to the control group. Overall, these findings suggest that these types of television portrayals might produce more stigmatizing attitudes.