Abstract
Hoarding behaviours can cause numerous problems including health risks, family conflict, and removal of children and pets from the home. Hoarding research typically adopts a cognitive-behavioural framework and uses quantitative methods; we aimed to further understand the development of hoarding behaviour from a qualitative perspective. Constructivist grounded theory methods were employed across two phases of data collection via semi-structured interviews with participants identifying as exhibiting hoarding behaviours. Provisional categories were developed in phase one; further data analysis in phase two helped to establish our grounded theory. The theoretical core is a struggle to manage possessions and life, including life transitions such as moving to a new home and starting or finishing university. ‘Struggling to manage’ incorporates emotional struggles with possessions and the impacts of personal trauma and overwhelming life events. A further category, ‘Trying to overcome hoarding’ incorporates participants’ efforts to manage and overcome their hoarding. Findings highlight the importance of viewing hoarding in a holistic context.