A systematic review and realist synthesis on toilet paper hoarding : COVID or not COVID, that is the question
Labad, Javier (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
González-Rodríguez, Alexandre (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal)
Cobo, Jesus (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal)
Puntí Vidal, Joaquim (Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari. Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT))
Farré, Josep Maria (Hospital Universitari Dexeus (Barcelona, Catalunya))

Date:	2021
Abstract:	To explore whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with toilet paper hoarding and to assess which risk factors are associated with the risk of toilet paper hoarding. A systematic review and realist review were conducted. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO were searched (systematic review). PubMed, pre-prints and grey literature were also searched (realist review). The databases were searched from inception until October 2020. There were no restrictions on the study design. For the systematic review, toilet paper hoarding was the main outcome, and pathological use of toilet paper was the secondary outcome. For the realist review, the context-mechanisms-outcome (CMO) scheme included the COVID-19 pandemic (context), four proposed mechanisms, and one outcome (toilet paper hoarding). The four potential mechanisms were (1) gastrointestinal mechanisms of COVID-19 (e. g. diarrhoea), (2) social cognitive biases, (3) stress-related factors (mental illnesses, personality traits) and (4) cultural aspects (e. g. differences between countries). All studies of human populations were considered (including general population studies and clinical studies of patients suffering from mental health problems). The systematic review identified 14 studies (eight studies for the main outcome, six studies for the secondary outcome). Three surveys identified the role of the COVID-19 threat in toilet paper hoarding in the general population. One study pointed to an association between a personality trait (conscientiousness) and toilet paper buying and stockpiling as well as an additional significant indirect effect of emotionality through the perceived threat of COVID-19 on toilet paper buying and stockpiling. Six case reports of pathological use of toilet paper were also identified, although none of them were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The realist review suggested that of all the mechanisms, social cognitive biases and a bandwagon effect were potential contributors to toilet paper hoarding in the general population. The stressful situation (COVID-19 pandemic) and some personality traits (conscientiousness) were found to be associated with toilet paper hoarding. Cultural differences were also identified, with relatively substantial effects of toilet paper hoarding in several Asian regions (Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore). The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a worldwide increase in toilet paper hoarding. Social media and social cognitive biases are major contributors and might explain some differences in toilet paper hoarding between countries. Other mental health-related factors, such as the stressful situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, fear of contagion, or particular personality traits (conscientiousness), are likely to be involved. PROSPERO CRD42020182308.
Grants:	Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017SGR632 Instituto de Salud Carlos III INT19/00071
Note:	Altres ajuts: Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya, LT006/17/00012;
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article de revisió ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Toilet paper ; Hoarding ; Coronavirus ; Covid ; Stress ; Personality
Published in:	PeerJ, Vol. 9 (january 2021) , ISSN 2167-8359

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10771
PMID: 33575133

40 p, 3.7 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles