There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
Hoarding behavior, patterns of use of possessions, and emotional attachment to possessions
were examined among a sample of female undergraduates and a sample of community volunteers.
Hoarding behavior was associated with a decreased frequency of use of possessions
and excessive concern about maintaining control over possessions. Furthermore, high
scores on the hoarding scale were associated with higher levels of perceived responsibility
for: (1) being prepared; and (2) the well-being of the possession. Hoarding was also
associated with greater emotional attachment to possessions and to the reliance on
possessions for emotional comfort. The implications of these findings for the definition
of hoarding are discussed.