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P
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
official
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11925691
Visually simulated experience of cleaning behavior reduced residual anxiety from a stress-inducing physical scene. The manipulation involved mere visual simulation, with effect sizes (_d_ s = 0.205 and 0.141) in the expected small range by traditional standards (J. Cohen, 1988) and comparable with those in contemporary preregistered between-subjects research (Schäfer & Schwarz, 2019). The effect was observed and replicated on a pictorial measure of anxiety derived from basic emotional [...] of the manipulation check items (how clean the visualized experience felt and how much it involved touching oneself), only clean feelings significantly predicted lower anxiety (β = −0.1215, _SE_ = 0.0353, _t_(295) = −3.437, _p_ = .0007) and lower tension (β = −0.1693, _SE_ = 0.0344, _t_(299) = −4.924, _p_ = 1.41e−06), whereas touch involvement did not significantly predict anxiety (β = 0.0550, _SE_ = 0.0375, _t_(295) = 1.469, _p_ = .1429) and predicted higher tension (β = 0.0759, _SE_ = 0.0369, [...] ## found that (a) concrete visual simulation of cleaning behavior alleviated residual anxiety from a stress-inducing physical scene, an effect distinct from touch, and (b) actual cleaning behavior enhanced adaptive cardiovascular reactivity to a highly stressful context of social performance/evaluation, which provides the first physiological evidence for the attenuation of stress-related effects by cleaning. Overall, actual cleaning and simulated cleaning attenuate effects of physical or
E
elevaterecoveryhomes.com
article
https://elevaterecoveryhomes.com/cleaning-as-self-care
Your home reflects your mental state. When your space is cluttered, your mind feels the same way. Research shows that messy environments increase stress hormones, make it harder to focus, and contribute to anxiety and depression. But cleaning isn’t just about having a tidy house – it’s an act of self-care that directly impacts your emotional well-being. Understanding this connection can change how you think about household chores and give you a practical tool for managing your mental health. [...] A study looked at how 60 women described their homes – those who described their spaces as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” had higher rates of depression than those who described their homes as “restorative” and “restful”. While mess doesn’t directly cause depression, it can worsen symptoms.
### How does cleaning reduce anxiety? [...] A clean space supports a clear mind. And a clear mind supports recovery.
### The Bottom Line
The connection between a clean space and mental well-being is undeniable – by understanding the psychological impact of our surroundings, we can harness the therapeutic benefits of a tidy environment.
Cleaning isn’t just about having a nice-looking home. It’s about:
Managing stress and anxiety
Creating a sense of control
Building confidence
Providing a safe haven
Supporting your mental health
E
extension.usu.edu
research
https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/the-mental-benefits-of-declut…
Lang, M., Krátký, J., Shaver, J.H., Jerotijević, D., & Xygalatas, D. (2015). Effects of anxiety on spontaneous ritualized behavior. Current Biology, 25(14), 1892-1897.
McMains, S., & Kastner, S. (2011). Interactions of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms in human visual cortex. Journal of Neuroscience, 31(2):587-97. [...] Relieve anxiety. When things are not organized or clean, it can often bring vast amounts of anxiety. You may feel constantly stressed, worried, or afraid of more clutter accumulating. To allow our minds to find some peace, decluttering can lift that weight and help us to think clearer and feel calmer. [...] There is something to be said about having a clean and organized work or living space. According to a study by Princeton University, researchers discovered that our environment can positively or negatively impact our ability to complete tasks as well as our overall mental health. If the physical space around us feels scattered, it’s likely our mental space will feel the same. A study by the University of Connecticut found that by removing or controlling clutter, we can directly reduce the
N
neurosciencenews.com
news
https://neurosciencenews.com/anxiety-stress-messy-home-23874
Research suggests the detrimental effects of mess and clutter may be more pronounced in women than in men.
One study of 60 dual-income couples found women living in cluttered and stressful homes had higher levels of cortisol (a hormone associated with stress) and heightened depression symptoms. [...] Clutter and mess are more than just visual nuisances. They can have a profound impact on mental wellbeing, productivity and our choices.
Understanding why clutter affects you can empower you to take control of your mindset, your living spaces and, in turn, your life.
## About this stress and anxiety research news
Author: Erika Penney
Source:The Conversation
Contact: Erika Penney – The Conversation
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
This shows two heads. [...] These effects remained consistent even when factors like marital satisfaction and personality traits were taken into account. In contrast, the men in this study seemed largely unaffected by the state of their home environments.
The researchers theorised that women may feel a greater responsibility for maintaining the home. They also suggested the social aspect of the study (which involved giving home tours) may have induced more fear of judgement among women than men.
A
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. [...] ## Episode 227
Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by all your stuff? If so, you're not alone. In recent years, a thriving decluttering industry has sprung up to help us deal with our ever-accumulating piles of things. Dn. Joseph Ferrari, PhD, of DePaul University, talks about why we accumulate so much stuff and why we find it so hard to deal with it; what the research says about clutter, stress, and anxiety; and the best ways to get started clearing the clutter in your home. [...] Joseph Ferrari, PhD
M
mhanational.org
article
https://mhanational.org/resources/creating-a-healthy-home-environment
Keeping your living space clean is shown to promote calmness and a sense of control over your day-to-day life. Your home environment doesn’t need to be spotless, but clutter can be harmful to your mental state – contributing to depression, trouble focusing, confusion, and stress. Not only can clutter be distracting, but it has been shown to actually make it harder for your brain to think clearly. Neatness also provides predictability, which can cut down on brain fatigue and anxiety. Less time [...] reduce signs of anxiety and depression. [...] anxiety. Less time looking for lost items or getting distracted is always a good thing.
S
sciencedirect.com
article
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494421000062
βmeaning = −0.19, p < .001; βachievement = −0.13, p = .017) except the relationship dimension that was approaching statistical significance (βrelationships = −.10, p = .054). In the present research, the five dimensions of the PERMA-Profiler were defined as indicators of a latent variable, termed psychological well-being (Cobo et al., 2020; Rogers and Hart, 2021). Likewise, anxiety and depression were defined as two indicators of psychological distress (Jiang et al., 2022; Molnar et al., 2023). [...] Food Microbiology, Volume 79, 2019, pp. 85-89 Nigel Cook, …, Martin D'Agostino
### A randomized control trial investigating high-intensity interval training and mental health: A novel non-responder phenotype related to anxiety in young adults
Mental Health and Physical Activity, Volume 18, 2020, Article 100327 Kristen M.Lucibello, …, Jennifer J.Heisz
### Hereditary and environmental factors of the Five-Factor Model traits: A cross-cultural study [...] well-being (i.e., positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement), and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety and depression). Participants (_N_=388) reported their conspiracy mentality at Time 1 and then completed measures assessing perceived control, insomnia, psychological well-being, and psychological distress 1 month later at Time 2. We conducted regression analyses, structural equation modeling, and bootstrapping analyses to test our predictions that conspiracy
N
nuvancehealth.org
news
https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/how-clutter-affects-your-b…
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 [...] In short, clutter competes with your intended focus. Your brain’s attention system must constantly decide what to tune out and what to concentrate on, and the more clutter in the visual field or in your mind, the harder that job becomes. Over time, this can lead to reduced productivity and feeling you “just can’t concentrate.”
## The neuroscience of clutter and anxiety and stress [...] Related content: How inflammation in the body affects your health
Clutter-induced stress can often become a difficult cycle to break. Disorganization can cause anxiety because you feel pressured by the constant visual reminder of things left undone or disorganized. This in turn makes it harder to muster the energy and focus to clean up the clutter.