Perceived locus of control for clutter: Reported reasons for clutter in adults with and without hoarding symptoms

Abstract

Objectives: The goal of the current investigation was to expand on previous work on reasons for saving/discarding in the context of hoarding by examining individuals' perceived locus of control for household clutter.

Methods: Participants were asked to list their perceived reasons for clutter and assign each reason a percentage rating reflecting the extent to which they judged the reason to be responsible for their household clutter.

Results: Lack of time was an almost universally endorsed reason for clutter. Clinically severe hoarding levels were associated with lower responsibility ratings for time-related reasons and increased endorsement of distress-related reasons.

Conclusions: Future research should examine whether insight level affects how individuals with clinically severe hoarding perceive the locus of control for household clutter.

Practitioner ponits: Perception of lack of time may influence individuals' sense of locus of control for their household clutter levels. Hoarding severity is associated with being more likely to attribute distress around discarding or decision making as the reason for clutter.

Keywords: clutter; hoarding disorder; locus of control.