This research tested whether attachment avoidance and anxiety were associated with couples' (N = 59) disclosure during recorded discussions of recent events. The links between attachment and disclosure with relationship quality across 1 year were also assessed. Attachment was not associated with amount or intimacy of disclosure, but greater attachment anxiety was associated with more relationship-focused disclosure, whereas attachment avoidance was associated with less relationship-focused disclosure. Relationship-focused disclosure was also positively associated with relationship quality across time, whereas attachment avoidance predicted lower relationship quality. These findings indicate that spontaneous relationship-focused disclosure during routine conversations helps maintain relationships, but because people high in avoidance are less focused on sustaining closeness, their relationships tend to deteriorate over time.

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.

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Objective: The role of emotion regulation (ER) has been receiving increased attention in relation to various forms of psychopathology including hoarding disorder (HD). However, questionnaire designs are limited to finding associations of ER with symptoms or symptom groups, without finding out how such constructs might be involved in the disorder.Methods: This study was a qualitative investigation of ER in a clinical HD sample (N = 11).Results: Prominent themes provided support for ER difficulties in hoarding. In particular, difficulties with identifying and describing feelings, unhelpful attitudes toward the emotional experience, the use of avoidance-based strategies, and a perceived lack of effective ER strategies were prominent themes. Furthermore, emotional factors were identified as being associated with the onset and/or exacerbation of hoarding behavior, and possessions and acquiring behavior appeared to serve an ER function. Conclusion:The current paper provides a nuanced account of the role of ER in hoarding difficulties. K E Y W O R D S alexithymia, emotion regulation, emotional dysregulation, experiential avoidance, hoarding disorder J. Clin. Psychol. 2019;75:520-545. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jclp 520 |In summary, this investigation revealed a nuanced picture, with evidence for ER difficulties in HD, with regard to difficulties identifying and describing feelings, EA, unhelpful attitudes towards emotions, and a perceived lack of effective ER strategies. Aspects of hoarding behavior (i.e., acquiring and emotional attachment to possessions) appeared to serve an ER function for some participants. It is hoped that these findings serve to increase the detail in individual psychological formulations for individuals with hoarding, as well as improving overall models of the disorder. ORCID Maja Nedeljkovic