Digital hoarding behavior in adults: An investigation of its relationship with satisfaction with life and psychological well-being

This study aims to examine the relationship between digital hoarding behavior, which has become increasingly prevalent in today's digitalized world, and the levels of life satisfaction and psychological well-being among adult individuals. Digital hoarding is defined as the excessive accumulation and failure to discard unnecessary or non-functional digital data, which can negatively affect the quality of digital life and overall mental clarity. The present research explores whether individuals' digital hoarding tendencies are significantly related to their psychological and emotional states, specifically life satisfaction and psychological well-being. Additionally, the study evaluates the effects of demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, educational background, employment status, and daily screen time on digital hoarding behavior. The sample consisted of 569 adults from various sociodemographic backgrounds. Data were collected using the Digital Hoarding Scale, the Psychological Well- Being Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Correlation and regression analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between digital hoarding and life satisfaction. Specifically, individuals with lower levels of life satisfaction tended to exhibit higher levels of digital hoarding behavior. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between digital hoarding and psychological well-being. Moreover, longer screen time was associated with increased digital hoarding, and variables such as age, gender, and marital status demonstrated meaningful differences in hoarding tendencies. These results suggest that digital hoarding is not merely a result of individual technology usage habits but is also closely related to psychological and emotional functioning. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive social service interventions and mental health policies to address digital hoarding as a modern psychosocial issue. Understanding the psychological foundations of digital content accumulation is critical for promoting sustainable digital well-being and functional digital environments. May 2025, 100. pages. Keywords: Digital hoarding, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, social work