Abstract: (545 Views)
Background and Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder encompasses the presence of obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions. Over the past four decades, the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder has been under the influence of cognitive-behavioral models emphasizing the role of beliefs and evaluations in the development and progression of the disorder. These models consider intrusive thoughts as universally experienced and normal phenomena. However, interpreting these thoughts negatively leads to distress, prompting individuals to seek relief from these thoughts. Nevertheless, significant differences in symptom severity are not considered by these models, prompting researchers to focus on underlying psychological processes, including attachment styles. Various studies indicate that insecure attachments are associated with different forms of psychological pathology. However, few studies have examined the role of attachment in obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Additionally, individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder exhibit weak emotional recognition, which can exacerbate distress caused by disorder symptoms, leading affected individuals to employ maladaptive strategies in regulating their emotional experiences. Another underlying factor is self-ambivalence, wherein individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive symptoms lack a unified perception of self and perceive intrusive thoughts as a criterion for internal conflict perception.
Given that current interventions primarily focus on cognition, behavior, and biochemistry, there might be overlooked background phenomena. Therefore, further exploration in this area holds significant potential value. Hence, this present study aimed to examine the design of a path analysis model for some predictors of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Methodology: The research method employed was a descriptive correlational approach based on path analysis. The population of this study consisted of master's students studying in the academic year 2022-2023 at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The participants, 206 students, were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The research instruments included the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) (Foa et al., 2002), the Short Form of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire (Wei et al., 2007), the Self-Ambivalence Measure (SAM) questionnaire (Bhar & Kyrios, 2007), the Perception of Threat from Emotions questionnaire (McCubbin & Sampson, 2006), the Obsessive Beliefs questionnaire, and the questionnaire for the Interpretation of Intrusions Inventory (Obsessive-Compulsive Cognitions Working Group, 2005). The reliability of the questionnaires in this study was determined to be OCI-R: 0.96, ECR-R short form: 0.88, SAM: 0.94, Perception of Threat from Emotions: 0.95, Obsessive Beliefs: 0.98, and Interpretation of Intrusions Inventory: 0.98. To test the proposed model, path analysis and bootstrapping were used to examine the significance of indirect effects within the research model. Data at a significance level of 0.01 and software used included SPSS-26 and AMOS-24.
Results: The results indicated that the direct effect of anxiety attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms (β=0.209, p<0.002), and indirect effect of anxiety attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms mediated by the perception of threat from emotions (β=0.066, p<0.004), mediated by self-ambivalence (β=0.153, p<0.001), mediated by obsessive beliefs ( β=0.044, p< 0.016), mediated by interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.044, p<0.017), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of obsessive beliefs and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.013, p< 0.008), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self- ambivalence and obsessive beliefs (β=0.169, p<0.002), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β =0.179, p<0.001), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence, obsessive beliefs and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.035, p<0.001), and indirect effect of avoidant attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms mediated by the perception of threat from emotions (β=0.023, p<0.010), mediated by self-ambivalence (β=0.105, p<0.001), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence and obsessive beliefs (β=0.131, p<0.002), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.020, p<0.001), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence, obsessive beliefs and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.012, p<0.001), were significant. However, direct effect of avoidant attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms (β=0.028, p <0.608), and indirect effect of avoidant attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms mediated by interpretation of intrusive thoughts (p=0.412, β=-0.004) mediated by obsessive beliefs (β=0.013, p=0.090), and Mediated by the simultaneous effect of obsessive beliefs and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.003, p<0.081) were not significant. The goodness-of-fit indices indicated an adequate fit for the model (χ²/df = 2.788, IFI = 0.981, GFI = 0.978, CFI = 0.981, RMSEA = 0.093).
Conclusion: Based on these results, the present study highlights the importance of developmental and underlying factors in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, affirming the necessity to consider these factors in interventions related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Given that current interventions primarily focus on cognition, behavior, and biochemistry, there might be overlooked background phenomena. Therefore, further exploration in this area holds significant potential value. Hence, this present study aimed to examine the design of a path analysis model for some predictors of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Methodology: The research method employed was a descriptive correlational approach based on path analysis. The population of this study consisted of master's students studying in the academic year 2022-2023 at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The participants, 206 students, were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The research instruments included the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) (Foa et al., 2002), the Short Form of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire (Wei et al., 2007), the Self-Ambivalence Measure (SAM) questionnaire (Bhar & Kyrios, 2007), the Perception of Threat from Emotions questionnaire (McCubbin & Sampson, 2006), the Obsessive Beliefs questionnaire, and the questionnaire for the Interpretation of Intrusions Inventory (Obsessive-Compulsive Cognitions Working Group, 2005). The reliability of the questionnaires in this study was determined to be OCI-R: 0.96, ECR-R short form: 0.88, SAM: 0.94, Perception of Threat from Emotions: 0.95, Obsessive Beliefs: 0.98, and Interpretation of Intrusions Inventory: 0.98. To test the proposed model, path analysis and bootstrapping were used to examine the significance of indirect effects within the research model. Data at a significance level of 0.01 and software used included SPSS-26 and AMOS-24.
Results: The results indicated that the direct effect of anxiety attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms (β=0.209, p<0.002), and indirect effect of anxiety attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms mediated by the perception of threat from emotions (β=0.066, p<0.004), mediated by self-ambivalence (β=0.153, p<0.001), mediated by obsessive beliefs ( β=0.044, p< 0.016), mediated by interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.044, p<0.017), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of obsessive beliefs and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.013, p< 0.008), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self- ambivalence and obsessive beliefs (β=0.169, p<0.002), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β =0.179, p<0.001), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence, obsessive beliefs and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.035, p<0.001), and indirect effect of avoidant attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms mediated by the perception of threat from emotions (β=0.023, p<0.010), mediated by self-ambivalence (β=0.105, p<0.001), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence and obsessive beliefs (β=0.131, p<0.002), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.020, p<0.001), Mediated by the simultaneous effect of self-ambivalence, obsessive beliefs and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.012, p<0.001), were significant. However, direct effect of avoidant attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms (β=0.028, p <0.608), and indirect effect of avoidant attachment on obsessive-compulsive symptoms mediated by interpretation of intrusive thoughts (p=0.412, β=-0.004) mediated by obsessive beliefs (β=0.013, p=0.090), and Mediated by the simultaneous effect of obsessive beliefs and interpretation of intrusive thoughts (β=0.003, p<0.081) were not significant. The goodness-of-fit indices indicated an adequate fit for the model (χ²/df = 2.788, IFI = 0.981, GFI = 0.978, CFI = 0.981, RMSEA = 0.093).
Conclusion: Based on these results, the present study highlights the importance of developmental and underlying factors in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, affirming the necessity to consider these factors in interventions related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Keywords: obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, anxiety attachment, avoidant attachment, Perception of Threat from Emotions, Self-Ambivalence, Obsessive Beliefs, Interpretation of Intrusions
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Psychology
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