Hoarding disorder: Beliefs across cultures and relationship with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Choi, Elaine 2024. Hoarding disorder: Beliefs across cultures and relationship with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ClinPsy Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Hoarding Disorder (HD) has garnered increasing attention in recent years, driven by its significant impact on individuals’ daily lives and mental health. Despite this growing interest, a considerable gap remains in understanding how hoarding manifests across different cultural contexts and the nature of its co-occurrence with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This preface summarises the two interconnected studies, firstly, a systematic review of the association between HD and ADHD and secondly, an empirical research study exploring cross-cultural differences in hoarding-related beliefs. Within the literature, there are observations that both HD and ADHD share cognitive and behavioural features that may contribute to their co-occurrence. This systematic review was initiated to investigate the extent of the relationship between HD and ADHD, particularly looking to see if patterns emerged for symptoms of ADHD on hoarding behaviour and visa versa. The distinctiveness of their relationship was also understood in the context of other clinical groups. A comprehensive search strategy across databases identified 13 studies with a total of 2,632 participants which investigated the relationship of between HD and ADHD. A narrative synthesis revealed a significant correlation between inattention and hoarding severity, highlighting the role of inattention as a crucial factor in HD. Mixed findings regarding hyperactivity and impulsivity were noted, suggesting that these symptoms may not be as central to HD. The review also noted limitations, including the reliance on self-report measures and a lack of sample diversity. Nonetheless, this review provides valuable insights into the relationship between HD and ADHD, particularly highlighting the role of inattention as a key factor in HD. It advances the theoretical understanding of how these disorders intersect and informs clinical practice by emphasising the need for integrated assessment approaches. The review's findings suggest that future research should focus on longitudinal studies and diverse samples to better understand the developmental and cross-cultural aspects of this relationship. By addressing these gaps, researchers and clinicians can develop more targeted and effective interventions for individuals with co-occurring HD and ADHD. The empirical research, on the other hand, emerged from recognising that while Western perspectives on hoarding have been well-documented, there has been limited exploration of how hoarding-related beliefs differ across cultures. This study aimed to address this gap by examining beliefs in both Eastern and Western samples, using the Saving Beliefs Questionnaire to compare beliefs in HD and healthy control (HC) groups in a 2x2 factorial design. Outcomes showed significant cultural differences in hoarding-related beliefs. Eastern participants endorsed higher beliefs related to emotion and responsibility compared to Western participants. In contrast, Western participants showed stronger endorsements of control-related beliefs. The study found no significant cultural differences in beliefs about aesthetics, memory, wastefulness, and usefulness. Within the HD group, participants endorsed beliefs about emotion, memory, control, and responsibility more so than the HCs, aligning with existing research on maladaptive cognitions in HD. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of hoarding by highlighting the role of cultural factors in shaping hoarding-related beliefs. The findings suggest that treatment approaches should be culturally sensitive, perhaps with a focus on emotional attachment and responsibility-related beliefs in Eastern populations and control-related beliefs in Western populations. While certain cognitive dimensions of HD are universal, their expression and relevance can vary significantly across cultures. The research advances the biopsychosocial model of HD by incorporating cultural dimensions and suggests the need for further research to explore hoarding beliefs in diverse contexts. Overall, both studies collectively advance the understanding of hoarding from multiple perspectives—cognitive-behavioural and cultural—highlighting the need for an integrative approach to research and treatment. The systematic review and empirical research both accentuate the complexity of hoarding and the importance of considering cultural and cognitive factors in both theoretical models and clinical practice.

Item Type:	Thesis (DClinPsy)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	13 February 2025
Last Modified:	13 Feb 2025 11:50
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/176147

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