Greater interpersonal problems differentiate those who excessively acquire and save from those who only excessively acquire possessions

Objective
Maladaptive behaviours involving consumer goods underlie compulsive buying disorder and hoarding disorder, but only hoarding disorder involves a long-term maladaptive emotional attachment to possessions. Excessive object attachment may result from using possessions to manage interpersonal conflict and buffer its corresponding loneliness. The aim of the study was to examine these two groups (acquiring problems only vs acquiring plus discarding problems) with respect to their interpersonal functioning.

Method
One hundred eighty individuals who self-reported acquiring problems participated in the study; 121 of these individuals also had difficulties discarding possessions. Participants completed measures of insecure interpersonal attachment, interpersonal problems, and loneliness.

Results
Participants who had acquiring and discarding problems (i.e., hoarding group) self-reported greater anxious attachment and more interpersonal problems, but not greater loneliness than those who only had an acquiring problem (i.e., compulsive buying group). The positive relationship between an anxious interpersonal attachment style and greater discarding difficulties was mediated by interpersonal difficulties.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that the emotional attachment to possessions central to hoarding disorder may be a function of using possessions to compensate for unmet belongingness needs. If true, treatment outcomes may be improved by helping individuals to strengthen their interpersonal relationships.