World Mental Health Day | PhD researcher shines a light on the hidden impact of hoarding on children

A psychology PhD student at the University of South Wales (USW) is calling for greater understanding of the often-overlooked experiences of children living in hoarded homes, as she investigates how hoarding behaviour can affect childhood development and wellbeing.

Jenny Quinn is exploring what she describes as a significant gap in existing research through her study, ‘The Cost of Clutter’. While much of the current evidence focuses on the person experiencing hoarding disorder, Jenny’s work seeks to understand the day-to-day realities of children growing up in these environments.

Jenny has spent over 25 years working with children and families in schools and complex behaviour settings. Her research journey began unexpectedly while working in a school. After a pupil ran home during the school day, Jenny followed him to ensure he was safe and found herself entering a hoarded property for the first time.

"The impact on me was profound," she said. "I was feeling claustrophobic and on edge for days afterwards. I kept thinking, if spending 20 minutes in that environment had affected me so deeply, what impact was it having on the child who lived there every day?"

Unable to ignore the questions the experience raised, Jenny left her role and began volunteering with families in the community, gaining first-hand insight into a wide range of home environments. Over time, she noticed recurring patterns and became increasingly interested in the relationship between cluttered living spaces and children's experiences.

Jenny is in the early stages of her research but has found that while the physical dangers associated with severe hoarding are well recognised, including fire risks and unsafe living conditions, far less is known about the psychological impact on children.

"We know that adults who grew up in hoarded environments often report anxiety, depression, trauma, and feelings of shame," she said. "What we don't know is exactly how those experiences become embedded during childhood because nobody has really asked children directly about their experiences."

Jenny believes children living in hoarded homes may face challenges that extend beyond physical safety. These can include limited privacy, difficulties maintaining personal hygiene, problems completing schoolwork, social isolation, and increased vulnerability to bullying.

She is particularly interested in understanding how these experiences differ across stages of childhood, from early years through to adolescence, and whether earlier support could help prevent long-term mental health difficulties.

As part of her work, Jenny is also examining how public services respond to hoarding. She co-authored a recently published study on housing officers’ experiences and argues that professionals across agencies, including education, health, housing, social care, and emergency services, often lack a consistent framework for identifying and responding to the needs of children living in these environments.

Ultimately, she hopes her research will contribute to the development of a shared assessment framework that helps organisations to understand families’ experiences and respond more effectively.

Importantly, Jenny stresses that any support must be rooted in compassion rather than blame.

"These are families living with a mental health condition," she said. "This is not about vilifying parents. It's about recognising that children may also need support and making sure we have the right frameworks in place to help entire families."

For Jenny, World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the hidden impact that hoarding can have on children and families.

"We need to start the conversation," she said. "The first step is understanding what's happening for children and listening to their voices. Only then can we build the support they need."