THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY TRAITS IN DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL HOARDING BEHAVIORS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF RAWALPINDI AND ISLAMABAD

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of personality traits with digital and physical hoarding among university students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The research further aimed to investigate the gender differences in proposed study variables, allowing for a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics in the digital age.

Materials and Methods: The research employed a survey approach for the recruitment of 300 university students from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Participants were provided with informed consent, Big Five Personality Inventory, and Hoarding Rating Scale to measure physical hoarding and digital hoarding. Among participants, 150 were men and 150 women from both public and private sector universities.

Results: Descriptive Analysis were performed to see the normality of the data. Further, Pearson product-moment correlation was performed to see the relationship. Results indicated partial acceptance of study hypotheses where significant associations were reported in context of neuroticism and openness dimensions. The neuroticism is positively associated with both digital and physical hoarding, whereas positive association of openness to new experiences was apparent only in digital hoarding. Non-significant correlation was reported among the remaining dimensions.  However, significantly high correlation was evident among physical and digital hoarding. Gender differences indicated that women scored higher than men on neuroticism, agreeableness, and physical hoarding subdomain. Slight mean difference in digital hoarding where men scored higher, but these differences were non-significant.

Conclusion: Understanding personality traits and their linkage with physical and hoarding behaviors is vital in formulating individual specific plan that will facilitate individual as well as the organizations in reducing problematic behaviors and making life more organized and functional.