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Emotional regulation, attachment to possessions and hoarding symptoms
Author(s) -
Phung Philip J.,
Moulding Richard,
Taylor Jasmine K.,
Nedeljkovic Maja
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/sjop.12239
Subject(s) - psychology , hoarding (animal behavior) , anxiety sensitivity , hoarding disorder , anxiety , clinical psychology , impulsivity , emotional distress , distress , attachment theory , mood , psychiatry , compulsive behavior , ecology , foraging , biology
This study aimed to test which particular facets of emotion regulation ( ER ) are most linked to symptoms of hoarding disorder, and whether beliefs about emotional attachment to possessions ( EA ) mediate this relationship. A non‐clinical sample of 150 participants (108 females) completed questionnaires of emotional tolerance (distress tolerance, anxiety sensitivity, negative urgency – impulsivity when experiencing negative emotions), depressed mood, hoarding, and beliefs about emotional attachment to possessions. While all emotional tolerance measures related to hoarding, when considered together and controlling for depression and age, anxiety sensitivity and urgency were the significant predictors. Anxiety sensitivity was fully mediated, and urgency partially mediated, via beliefs regarding emotional attachment to possessions. These findings provide further support for (1) the importance of anxiety sensitivity and negative urgency for hoarding symptoms, and (2) the view that individuals with HD symptoms may rely on items for emotion regulation, leading to stronger beliefs that items are integral to emotional wellbeing.