Nick Neave

The prevalence of disordered eating is reportedly high in people with hoarding behaviours, and both eating disorders (ED) and hoarding disorder (HD) show strong associations with anxiety/depression. There is also some evidence that both may be underpinned by aspects of perfectionism. In a non-clinical sample of 252 adults (187 females) we explored possible relationships between disordered eating and hoarding severity, and assessed the relationships between hoarding, eating disorders and perfectionism. After controlling for gender and mood (anxiety and depression) we found significant positive correlations between hoarding symptoms (especially ‘acquisition’) and one aspect of disordered eating (bulimic severity). We did not find an association between hoarding behaviours and perfectionism as a whole, but did find a significant negative association between hoarding and ‘organization’, which is one aspect of perfectionism. The predicted association between ED and perfectionism was found at all levels of analysis. We propose that hoarding-related behaviour (especially excessive acquisition) may be associated most strongly with binge-eating and this should be explored further in future research.

There is mixed evidence regarding the association between hoarding behaviours and psychosis. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the association between hoarding severity and schizotypy in two non-clinical samples large enough to estimate associations with reasonably high levels of precision. In addition, we aimed to examine whether individual differences in hyperactive agency detection mediated any associations that were found between hoarding severity and schizotypy. We conducted two online studies (Study 1 N = 212; Study 2 N = 261), with participants completing self-report measures of schizotypy, hoarding severity, and negative affect, as well as a measure of hyperactive agency detection, using a Heider-Simmel animation. In both studies, there were significant, positive associations between hoarding severity and schizotypy and between hoarding severity and hyperactive agency detection. However, while individual differences in hyperactive agency detection partially mediated the association between schizotypy and hoarding severity in Study 2, this was not the case in Study 1. These findings provide further evidence of an association between hoarding and schizotypy, but the role hyperactive agency detection plays in the development of hoarding remains unclear. Open materials, open data, and pre-registered predictions/analysis plans are available at doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/kw5xa.

Introduction: Aberrant salience has been extensively studied in relation to various psychopathologies, such as psychosis. However, its role in hoarding is yet to be explored, despite evidence of associations between the development of hoarding and dysregulation in dopaminergic systems. Thus, the aim of this pre-registered study was to examine associations between self-reported experiences of aberrant salience and hoarding severity in a non-clinical sample.Methods: A correlational, cross-sectional design was employed. We presented an online survey to 214 adults (Mean age = 25.47, SD = 6.55), where they completed the negative subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI), and the Savings Inventory-Revised (SI-R). Results: ASI scores were significantly positively correlated with SI-R scores (r = 0.35, p < .001). In a regression analysis, ASI scores were also found to be a significant predictor of SI-R scores, independent of demographic factors and mood.Conclusions: This study serves as the first evidence of an association between aberrant salience and hoarding. Replication of these findings in a clinical sample could have significant implications for therapeutic interventions for hoarding. Open materials and open data are available at doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/zr9wy.

The decision to move from independent to supported housing is a key life decision. Research focusing on the potential barriers to transition to supported housing for people with hoarding behaviours and the impact of social networks on the decision‐making process is scarce. 16 participants, including 4 participants with hoarding behaviours, took part in in‐depth semistructured interviews providing information about their social networks, support received, their perceptions of supported housing, and their decisions made. Relatives and friends were the most widely reported networks of support for discussing supported housing options for participants both with and without hoarding behaviours. Three key themes were extracted from the dataset: Before the Move: Crisis and Stigma; During the Move: Possessions and Support; and After the Move: Supported Housing = a Bright Tomorrow. The data revealed stigmatised and negative perceptions of supported housing prior to moving, with a crisis event initiating the move in most cases. For people with hoarding behaviours, existing life traumas proved an additional barrier. All participants reported “moving day” as an acutely stressful event, and participants with hoarding behaviours reported greater stress and anxiety over possessions. All moved participants reported living in supported housing as a positive outcome. Three key considerations are apparent: awareness raising to combat stigmatised perceptions of supported housing; targeted support during the moving process to manage and pre‐empt problems; promoting supported housing as a positive environment and making participants, and their networks aware, potentially reducing the perceived impact of the move. Further research with a larger, and more socially and geographically diverse sample of individuals with and without hoarding behaviours, is recommended to further explore these considerations.

Initial validation of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS) identified five correlated factors: Government Malfeasance, Malevolent Global Conspiracies, Extraterrestrial Cover‐up, Personal Well‐being and Control of Information. Despite replications of this structure, ensuing research, mostly using translated versions of the GCBS (i.e., Persian and Japanese), has reported factorial alternatives. Concomitantly, researchers postulated that belief in conspiracies was higher in historically troubled societies (e.g., Serbia). To further assess the cultural stability of the five correlated factor solution and test the assumption that GCBS scores are affected by social‐political instability, a Serbian adaptation of the GCBS was assessed alongside the standard English language version. Data were collected from Serbian (n = 259, 44.40% males) and UK samples (n = 402, 52.25% males). Within samples, confirmatory factor analysis replicated the five‐factor solution. Additionally, national and gender invariance was confirmed. National comparisons (Serbia vs. UK) revealed that the Serbian sample scored higher on Government Malfeasance, Malevolent Global Conspiracies, Personal Well‐being and Control of Information, whereas the UK sample scored higher on Extraterrestrial Cover‐up. There were no gender differences on GCBS factors. Findings indicated that while the Serbian GCBS was interpreted similarly to the GCBS, societal factors influenced endorsement of belief facets.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the possible association between digit ratio (2D:4D) and match‐play success (MPS) in junior tennis players. In addition, we consider the possible explanatory pathways of these associations in relation to psychological, strength, power, and hormonal parameters.Methods: We performed a cross‐sectional study, with a sample comprised of 64 male junior tennis players (11–18 years old). Digit ratio was calculated from direct finger measurements. In addition, we measured the ratio of wins by number of matches played in 5 years of official competition (MPS), handgrip strength (HGS), standing long jump (SLJ), training (in weekly hours), and expertise (number of years in official competition). Salivary testosterone and cortisol levels were measured before and after physical “challenge” tests.Results: The 2D:4D correlated negatively with HGS and SLJ. MPS was also negatively associated with 2D:4D, but was positively correlated to HGS, expertise, training, and self‐confidence (SC). Multiple linear regression showed 2D:4D and expertise were associated with MPS (43%–54%). None of the physical, or hormonal variables tested explained the links between 2D:4D and MPS.Conclusion: Therefore, the specific fitness components influenced by prenatal androgenization that moderate sports success remain unknown. Future studies should explore the interaction of 2D:4D, with tennis exercises as a challenge to induce hormonal change, the effect of pubertal stage, and the influence of aerobic endurance in determining MPS.

Individuals within organisations necessarily hold data including personal identifiable data, for individuals with a tendency to accumulate digital data and a reluctance to delete it, there is greater potential for data to be stored. Therefore, understanding why people engage in digital hoarding and how they respond to the mitigations put in place is important. Eleven people working in a large commercial organisation scoring highly on a digital hoarding questionnaire, took part in focus groups to understand the extent to which they kept digital data. The focus groups also explored employee compliance with policies and procedures including knowledge of GDPR. Thematic analysis led to three themes: (1) Organisational culture versus digital hoarding tendency, (2) Thinking about personal data, and (3) Responsibility and control. The findings highlight different motivations for data hoarding including anxiety driven by ‘blame culture’ as participants respond to workplace challenges and the need to be accountable. Participants were aware of policies including GDPR but often used workarounds to keep data longer than specified in their information retention policies. Technical approaches to data reduction were often counterproductive. Findings are discussed in relation to potential threats of digital data hoarding and technical and non-technical approaches to reducing digital data retention.

Technology to enable and support learning and teaching is widespread in university settings. One consequence of such technology use is the accumulation of large volumes of digital data. The acquisition of, and failure to, discard digital content can lead to digital clutter. The potential negative consequences of digital clutter have been examined mainly within a workplace context. Far less is known about how university students manage their academic digital data and whether they have strategies to deal with excessive digital clutter. Eighteen undergraduate students took part in a one-to-one or group-based interview to discuss their digital data management strategies including accumulation and deletion behaviours. Thematic analysis led to three themes: (1) Digital data accumulation across the student journey, (2) Reactive and evolving digital data management strategies and (3) Data overload: Anxiety, loss of productivity and feeling overwhelmed. The findings capture the complexity of feelings students have about different types of digital technology and the strategies they use to manage increasingly large volumes of digital data. Findings are discussed in relation to the need for better support and guidance for students around the use of digital technology to manage their data during their time at university.

“Compulsive Shopping” is characterized by poorly controlled preoccupations/urges/behaviors focused on shopping and spending, causing significant distress/impairment. This study looked at what roles executive and related memory problems might exist in compulsive shopping. 205 adults completed on-line questionnaires measuring compulsive shopping, mood, as well as working memory and inhibition components of executive function. The Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale was used to assign participants to either a High Compulsive Shopping (HCS) group or Low Compulsive Shopping (LCS) group. Working memory (WM) and inhibition control (IC) were measured as two components of executive function (EF) using the Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI), the Dysexecutive Questionnaire Revised (DEX-R) measured general EF. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale measured anxiety and depression. MANCOVA and mediation analyses were carried out controlling for age, gender, anxiety, depression. The HCS group scored significantly higher on all three EF measures, indicating greater executive difficulties. Subsequent mediation analyses with the ADEXI-IC as the mediator removed the significance of the relationship between Group and both the DEX-R and ADEXI-WM outcome variables. Thus, observed Group difference in DEX-R and ADEXI-WM could be fully accounted for by group differences in inhibitory control. The results highlight the role inhibitory control plays in compulsive shopping.