Object attachment in hoarding disorder and its role in a compensatory process

Background and aims Individuals who meet criteria for compulsive buying–shopping disorder (i.e., acquiring problems only) or hoarding disorder (i.e., acquiring and discarding problems) may acquire possessions to compensate for unmet belonging needs, but may do so in different ways. Those with compulsive buying–shopping disorder may acquire objects that they believe will relieve the distress associated with unmet belonging needs (e.g., objects that distract or comfort), whereas those with hoarding disorder may acquire objects that they believe achieve belonging needs (e.g., objects that have interpersonal connotations). Accordingly, this study examined whether a belongingness threat would drive individuals who excessively acquire possessions to choose a human-like object (person-shaped tea holder) or a comfort item (box of chamomile tea). Methods One hundred seventy-five participants (57 self-reported excessive acquiring only; 118 self-reported excessive acquiring and difficulty discarding) recalled a time when they either felt supported or unsupported by a significant other before choosing an object to take home with them. Participants rated how anthropomorphic and comforting the objects were as well as how attached they became to their chosen object. Results Unsupported individuals were more likely to acquire the comfort item than supported individuals; however, individuals with both acquiring and discarding problems were more likely to acquire the human-like item than those with an acquiring problem only. Comfort and anthropomorphism ratings predicted object choice and attachment. Discussions and conclusion The current findings extend the Compensatory Consumer Behavior Model to include what factors determine strategy choice and object attachment.

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Excessive Object Attachment in Hoarding Disorder: Examining the Role of Interpersonal Functioning

Behavior Therapy ◽

10.1016/j.beth.2021.02.003 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jonathan David ◽

Deborah O. Aluh ◽

Marika Blonner ◽

Melissa M. Norberg

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Functioning ◽

Hoarding Disorder ◽

Object Attachment

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Structured Interview for Hoarding Disorder (SIHD)

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000433 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 512-520

Author(s):

Caterina Novara ◽

Paolo Cavedini ◽

Stella Dorz ◽

Susanna Pardini ◽

Claudio Sica

Keyword(s):

Convergent Validity ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Diagnostic Process ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽

Clinical Environment ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Rater Reliability ◽

Hoarding Disorder ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum

Abstract. The Structured Interview for Hoarding Disorder (SIHD) is a semi-structured interview designed to assist clinicians in diagnosing a hoarding disorder (HD). This study aimed to validate the Italian version of the SIHD. For this purpose, its inter-rater reliability has been analyzed as well as its ability to differentiate HD from other disorders often comorbid. The sample was composed of 74 inpatients who had been diagnosed within their clinical environment: 9 with HD, 11 with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and HD, 22 with OCD, 19 with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 13 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). The results obtained indicated “substantial” or “perfect” inter-rater reliability for all the core HD criteria, HD diagnosis, and specifiers. The SIHD differentiated between subjects suffering from and not suffering from a HD. Finally, the results indicated “good” convergent validity and high scores were shown in terms of both sensitivity and specificity for HD diagnosis. Altogether, the SIHD represents a useful instrument for evaluating the presence of HD and is a helpful tool for the clinician during the diagnostic process.

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Attachment Anxiety Mitigates the Well-Being Costs of Object Attachment

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000328 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 41-56

Author(s):

Lucas A. Keefer ◽

Zachary K. Rothschild

Keyword(s):

Past Research ◽

Well Being ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Current Paper ◽

Personality Research ◽

Psychological Correlates ◽

State Study ◽

Object Attachment ◽

Diary Methods ◽

State Variation

Abstract. Clinical and personality research consistently demonstrates that people can form unhealthy and problematic attachments to material possessions. To better understand this tendency, the current paper extends past research demonstrating that anxieties about other people motivate these attachments. These findings suggest that although object attachment generally correlates with poorer well-being, it may attenuate well-being deficits associated with insecurity about close relationships. The current paper presents two studies using converging correlational ( N = 394) and diary methods ( N = 413) to test whether object attachments’ association with poorer well-being is moderated by relationship uncertainties. We find that both trait (Study 1) and state (Study 2) insecurities about others eliminated, and in some cases reversed, the negative psychological correlates of object attachment. These effects, however, were only observed when focusing on between-person variation in both studies; within-person analysis demonstrated that state variation in object attachment predicted better psychological well-being. These results highlight a need for more nuanced studies of object attachment and well-being.

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