8 results ·
● Live web index
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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
official
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9137741
Most previous clutter research has utilized life satisfaction as the objective definition for subjective well-being when testing clutter’s relationship to subjective well-being [1,2,5,6]. In addition to subjective well-being, the research on clutter found that excessive items impact on many other aspects of individual’s lives; including employee burnout/tension and satisfaction with one’s job [20,21], indecision (decisional procrastination) and behavioral procrastination , need for cognition , [...] from childhood to old age…” (; p. 414). An emerging topic in life course research is health and well-being across the life course, and its subsequent changes. As detailed above, clutter impacts on individuals’ well-being; therefore, this provides grounding to the importance of studying clutter and its impacts among various age groups to assess potential life course changes. [...] However, to date, no previous research has compared older adults’ (≥65 years old) and younger adults’ (≤64 years old) experiences with clutter, sense of psychological home, and subjective well-being. Taken together, these previous research findings provide a basis for questioning whether the established relationship between clutter, psychological home, and subjective well-being may be experienced differently based on age, specifically in the later part of life (e.g., older adults, 65+).
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sciencedirect.com
article
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494425001550
by F Quinn · 2025 · Cited by 2 — The main findings were that clutter significantly predicted more undesirable affect, mental well-being and life satisfaction.
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nuvancehealth.org
news
https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/how-clutter-affects-your-b…
Research confirms people think more clearly, and even become less irritable and more productive, in an organized setting than in a cluttered one. By decluttering, you free up mental bandwidth. Decisions — even simple ones like what to have for dinner or which task to do first — come a bit easier when your brain isn’t constantly managing the excess stimuli and mental load that clutter creates.
Related content: How to achieve physical, mental and emotional wellness for better overall health [...] The bottom line: Clutter isn’t just a visual nuisance — it affects your brain health. Research shows clutter can overwhelm your mind, drain your focus, heighten stress and disrupt sleep. But don’t let clutter clutter your thoughts: By clearing your space and calming your thoughts, you can boost your attention, lower anxiety and have better cognitive and emotional well-being.
### Work with us [...] Studies have found people living in cluttered homes are more likely to experience insomnia and poor sleep quality. Stress and mental stimulation from clutter can keep the brain alert and uneasy, even at night. It’s hard for your mind to power down when it’s bombarded by signs of chaos or by racing thoughts about things you haven't done yet.
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apa.org
news
https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/clutter
years, psychologist research has begun to find that living and working in cluttered spaces causes stress and anxiety and can harm both our mental health and our productivity. [...] It’s tiring. It’s exhausting. As we said, it could be an emotional trigger, but we know that the more clutter leads to more depression, more mood disorders. As I said earlier, lower psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction, negative emotions about the self. People with lots of clutter do lots of self devaluing the data shows. We didn’t do this study, but a study had been done that found it’s related to over consumption of unhealthy foods. So people with lots of clutter tend to eat a lot maybe [...] My guest today is Dr. Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology and distinguished professor at DePaul University in Chicago. Dr. Ferrari studies the psychology of clutter, including why we accumulate it, how it affects our mental health, and the link between clutter and procrastination. He’s also well known for his research on the causes and consequences of procrastination, and is the author of several books on that subject for researchers, clinicians, and the general public. He has published
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extension.usu.edu
research
https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/the-mental-benefits-of-declut…
A study by the University of Connecticut found that by removing or controlling clutter, we can directly reduce the stress that stems from the mess.
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ifstudies.org
article
https://ifstudies.org/blog/a-cluttered-home-causes-more-stress-for-women-than…
My childhood experience is not unusual, as many people find clutter in homes and workplaces to be unpleasant and even stressful. For example, a 2025 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that people who considered their homes more cluttered had lower levels of well-being and life satisfaction, as well as higher levels of negative feelings. Clutter also reduces the psychological attachment people have to their homes. Office clutter similarly increases emotional exhaustion and [...] ## Sex Differences in the Effects of Clutter
Not surprisingly, there are sex differences in the effects of clutter on well-being. Women find a cluttered home more stressful than men do, on average, and this leads to detrimental daily patterns of the stress hormone cortisol. This was shown in a landmark 2010 study of 30 middle-class, dual-income families with at least one young child living in a large U.S. city. [...] 1. A 2025 study found that people who consider their homes more cluttered have lower levels of well-being and life satisfaction, as well as higher levels of negative feelings Post This
2. Women find a cluttered home more stressful than men do, on average, and this leads to detrimental daily patterns of the stress hormone cortisol. Post This
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www1.racgp.org.au
news
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/what-does-clutter-do-to-your-brain-…
Clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious and depressed. Research from the United States in 2009, for instance, found the levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher in mothers whose home environment was cluttered.
A chronically cluttered home environment can lead to a constant low-grade fight or flight response, taxing our resources designed for survival. [...] Bursting cupboards and piles of paper stacked around the house may seem harmless enough. But research shows disorganisation and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains.
Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganisation drain our cognitive resources, reducing our ability to focus.
The visual distraction of clutter increases cognitive overload and can reduce our working memory. [...] In 2011, neuroscience researchers using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and other physiological measurements found clearing clutter from the home and work environment resulted in a better ability to focus and process information, as well as increased productivity.
And your physical and mental health
W
webmd.com
article
https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-clutter-affects-health
If you're a bit scatterbrained because your space is scattered, don't wait to neaten up. Research has shown that adults in their 50s who have too many piles of stuff are more likely than younger folks to put off making decisions about what to get rid of. The study also found that those piles can make you less satisfied with your life.
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## Your Mind Wanders [...] When everything is in order, you know exactly where you put your glasses and keys so you can grab them and go on with your day. That saves time and a whole lot of hassle. In one study, women who saw their homes as cluttered had high levels of the stress hormone cortisol throughout the day, while those who described their abode as a well-organized, restful space had lower levels.
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## It Doesn’t Get Easier [...] ## Memory Issues
Some people who live in cluttered homes have a poorer "working memory," according to research. Your brain is wired to be able to keep track of only a few details at once for a short period, so it can get overloaded when there’s too much going on.
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