8 results ·
● Live web index
Y
youtube.com
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwsI-KTbUDQ
in addition cluttered environments have been shown to correlate with increased rates of insomnia which leads to poor hormone regulation which is another core factor in Mental Health Management a study called no place like home which was published in the Personality and Social Psychology bulletin found that the way people described their homes reflected whether their time at home felt restorative or stressful in this study women with higher stress hormone scores had increased depressed moods [...] in short clutter is distracting one of the major psychological effects of clutter is that it can be mentally debilitating for children and adults with ADHD and add so what about behavioral effects frustration irritation avoidance apathy cluttered and chaotic environments can bring on a garden variety of unpleasant emotions that Domino into unpleasant behaviors clutter has been linked to two of the top five reasons for divorce excessive arguments and Financial problems a study published in the [...] more enjoyable in theory than in reality our homes are vivid reflections of our minds but can our minds also be a reflection of our homes well that's what we're here to talk about today the psychological effects of clutter according to research the most obvious psychological effect of clutter is stress but it's not just you many research studies have proven that a physical stress response correlates with cluttered environments a study by UCLA is probably the most popular of the studies so far
V
verywellmind.com
article
https://www.verywellmind.com/decluttering-our-house-to-cleanse-our-minds-5101511
Verywell / Laura Porter
### Key Takeaways
Clutter can significantly impact mental health by increasing stress and making it difficult to relax. While some may find a cluttered environment creatively inspiring, for others, excess items contribute to feelings of being overwhelmed and unfocused. By recognizing these effects, it becomes possible to manage clutter and improve overall well-being.
## What Is the Impact of Clutter on Mental Health? [...] The clutter in your environment can even cause you to develop negative feelings about your home. In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, researchers suggest that this is because 'home' is more than just where we live.
Instead, they suggest that home is a constellation of situations, experiences, and meanings. The individual shapes these experiences, but they are also shaped by them.
For this reason, excessive clutter was found to harm subjective well-being. [...] You might tell yourself, I'll declutter eventually. But time keeps passing, and your home, office, or car is still filled to the brim with stuff. If any of this resonates with you, you're not alone. But many people don't realize the connection between clutter and mental health.
Accumulating a few extra possessions may not seem like a big deal, but clutter can negatively impact your mental health. It can increase stress levels, make it hard to focus, strain relationships, and more.
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. [...] 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
N
nuvancehealth.org
news
https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/how-clutter-affects-your-b…
Psychologists have noted excessive clutter can lead to feelings of frustration, being overwhelmed and shame, which can zap your motivation to tackle the mess. It’s easy to start feeling defeated, thinking “Where do I even start?” or procrastinating further because the task seems too big. [...] Research has shown cluttered homes can chip away at your mood and self-esteem, contributing to feelings of shame or inadequacy about not being “on top of things.” You might wonder if something is wrong with you because you can’t seem to get organized, which can hurt your confidence and create a negative self-image. This emotional exhaustion can further decrease your motivation to tidy up, reinforcing the clutter/stress cycle we discussed earlier. [...] 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.
S
stilwellmemorial.com
article
https://stilwellmemorial.com/healthy-living/the-impact-of-clutter-on-physical…
Increased cortisol levels, especially in women. Cortisol is a hormone associated with chronic stress.
Feeling less satisfaction with life overall.
Inability to focus, which is especially significant if you have ADHD.
Being embarrassed by the clutter, causing you to feel an increased sense of isolation and fear, especially of inviting anyone over. This is one way hoarding contributes to depression and anxiety.
Sensory overload, triggered by a messy space, which may result in memory issues. [...] Our emotions and mental health can be impacted by clutter in various ways, including: [...] Clutter places our physical health at risk in a variety of ways. These include:
W
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. [...] This response can trigger physical and psychological changes that affect how we fight bugs and digest food, as well as leaving us at greater risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Clutter might also have implications for our relationships with those around us. A 2016 US study, for instance, found background clutter resulted in participants being less able to correctly interpret the emotional expressions on the faces of characters in a movie. [...] Tidy house, happy life?
Participants in Marie Kondo’s Netflix show Tidying Up report that her decluttering method changes their lives for the better. Indeed, her first book was called The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
Research does indeed show cluttered home environments negatively influence the perception of our homes, and ultimately our satisfaction of life. The study authors note the strong effect is because we define ‘home’ not just as a place to live, but as:
S
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. A novel finding here was that
W
webmd.com
article
https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-clutter-affects-health
A neat, tidy house feels inviting, both for the people who live there as well as guests. A cluttered home may feel the opposite. But shutting people out can take a toll on relationships and make you feel sad and lonely. That could be one reason a hoarding disorder tends to overlap with depression and anxiety disorders.
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## Slips and Falls [...] A more organized environment may make you more caring toward others. In one study, volunteers who filled out surveys in a neat room were more likely to say they wanted to donate to a charity compared with those who were questioned in a messy room.
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## Memory Issues [...] 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