Cluttered Spaces, Cluttered Minds: A Narrative Review on the Influencers and Influences of Clutter

Description

Page: 79-84

Meena Osmany, Lekshmi Vijayan, Anjali Nagar, and Drishtilima Kalita (Department of Psychology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi)

Clutter has become an increasingly prevalent feature of modern environments. Despite its widespread presence in homes, workplaces, and academic settings, clutter remains an understudied phenomenon across disciplines. This narrative review synthesizes the literature on clutter’s conceptualization, influencers, and influences, drawing on studies from psychology, consumer behavior, and environmental research. The review finds a consensus on clutter’s definition, facilitating robust measurement and research. Key influencers include psychological conditions (e.g., hoarding, anxiety sensitivity), behavioral tendencies (e.g., procrastination), and societal factors (e.g., consumerism, workplace stress), with clutter also manifesting as a source of psychological comfort through sentimental objects. Clutter’s impacts are predominantly negative, contributing to stress, emotional exhaustion, reduced well-being, and impaired psychosocial functioning in workplace and household settings, though some evidence suggests potential creative benefits. Despite advances, gaps remain in exploring cultural variations, digital clutter, and positive aspects. This review underscores the need for interdisciplinary, culturally inclusive research to deepen understanding and inform interventions for managing clutter’s effects on modern life.