Lots of Digital Files? How Digital Hoarding Is Related to the Academic Performance of University Students

Bibliographic Data

ID15515622
AuthorsNatalia Bravo-Adasme (0000-0001-8612-6170, University of Concepción), Alejandro Cataldo (0000-0002-8183-591X, University of Talca, corresponding author), Hedy Acosta-Antognoni (0000-0002-8412-4128, University of Talca), Elizabeth E Grandón (0000-0002-8639-667X, University of Concepción), Nicolás Bravo (University of Concepción), Melba Villar Valdés (University of Concepción), Margarita Valdés (University of Bío-Bío)
Year2025
Volume22
Issue8
Pages1186-1186
Publication date2025-07-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph22081186
PMID40869772
OpenAlexW4412895974
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited48

Digital hoarding (DH) is an emerging behavior with potential implications for psychological well-being and daily functioning. While traditionally associated with physical hoarding disorder, DH presents unique challenges in digital environments, particularly among university students increasingly immersed in technology. This study examines the relationship between DH and academic performance, proposing a theoretical model in which academic engagement and academic burnout act as mediating mechanisms. Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources Theory, we provide evidence that DH contributes to a health impairment process that negatively affects student outcomes. Our findings reveal DH as a novel predictor of academic burnout, highlighting its detrimental impact on academic performance. These results carry significant theoretical and practical implications, offering new insights into the role of technology-related anxiety disorders in educational settings. From a practical perspective, our study underscores the need for higher education institutions to implement targeted interventions focused on emotional regulation and learning strategies to mitigate the negative effects of DH. Despite limitations related to sample specificity and cross-sectional data, this research opens avenues for future longitudinal studies and interventions aimed at addressing DH in both academic and professional contexts. By linking digital behaviors to mental health and performance, this work aligns with public health interests in understanding technology's impact on youth well-being

Anxiety · Burnout · Hoarding (animal behavior · Medical education · Mental health · Perspective (graphical · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Sample (material · Applied Psychology · Clinical Psychology · Computer Science · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Medicine · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Psychology

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