Compulsive Hoarding Symptoms and the Role of Mindfulness Skills During Social Distancing for the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Survey.

Donatella Marazziti,Andrea Pozza,Davide Dettore,Federico Mucci

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.634454

Abstract

People reporting compulsive hoarding symptoms (CHS) have lower mindfulness skills than those without such symptoms. Mindfulness skills can have the role of a protective buffer against stressful periods. The quarantine imposed to contain the COVID-19 spread had a negative impact on daily habits and healthy behaviors (including social interactions). An increased attachment to objects might be one of the under-recognized psychological consequences of these difficult times, yet no study focused on CHS. Through an online survey in men who were on quarantine during the pandemic, this exploratory survey examined the prevalence of men reporting CHS during this period and explored the role of mindfulness skills on CHS controlling for anxious-depressive/stress symptoms. Forty-three men from the general population completed the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Twenty-eight percent reported CHS. No differences on the scores of the questionnaires emerged between men with and without CHS, except on CAMS-R Attention scores. In a logistic regression analysis lower CAMS-R Attention scores predicted CHS (β = −0.34, p = 0.03). This is the first, yet preliminary investigation on CHS during quarantine. The prevalence of CHS appears higher than the rates (4%) reported in the last years before the COVID-19 outbreak. Perhaps people showed more intense hoarding tendencies during quarantine/social distancing, and this pattern should be monitored. Larger samples, longitudinal designs and clinician-rated instruments are needed to support or not our findings.

Highlights

During the last year, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted on the societies of most countries worldwide [1]
The present exploratory study is the first empirical contribution investigating compulsive hoarding symptoms (CHS) in a group of men of the general population during the quarantine. The prevalence of such symptoms (28%) appears higher than the rates (4–6%) generally reported in the last years before the COVID-19 outbreak in the general population [10]. This finding suggests that perhaps people have more intense hoarding behaviors during quarantine and social distancing, and this behavioral pattern should be more carefully monitored during the pandemic
Such an increase of CHS during the quarantine might be attributed to a variety of factors including stocking of masks, soaps, sanitizers, disinfectants that can lead to CHS, increased stress subsequent to quarantine and nation-wide lockdown in response to the COVID-19, a lower chance for interpersonal contacts that increases people’s attachment to objects, and a higher chance for compulsive online shopping as a way to cope with quarantine-related distress and loneliness [27]

Summary

Introduction

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted on the societies of most countries worldwide [1]. To cope with the spread of the infection, several national governments adopted a series of countermeasures including social distancing, more or less severe moving and activities restrictions, and quarantine. This social change represented and still represents a highly stressful life event with a negative impact on daily habits and healthy behaviors including social interactions. The clinical picture consists of a persistent and distressing difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value, due to a perceived need to save them This behavioral pattern results in the accumulation of items that clutter living areas and compromises their intended use, causing significant impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. The prevalence of clinically significant compulsive hoarding symptoms (CHS) in people who do not meet the criteria for a full diagnosis was identified in 4–6% of the general population, and it was greater in older than younger age groups, greater in men than women [10]

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