Predicting and explaining relationship obsessive-compulsive symptoms based on insecure attachment styles

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran.

2 Associate professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran.

4 MA. in clinical psychology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

5 Ph.D. student in psychology, University of Allameh Tabatabai, Tehran, Iran.

6 M.A. in clinical psychology, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

7 Academic Unit of Human Communication, Learning and Development, Faculty of Education, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

8 Assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Kashan Branch, Kashan, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Regarding the importance of investigating the relationship between insecure attachment styles and Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive (ROC) symptoms, the present study aimed to predict ROC symptoms due to insecure attachment of the anxiety and avoidance type in the student population.
 
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and correlational research, the statistical population included all married students of Tehran universities in the academic year of 2022. The research instruments were the New Partner-Related Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Inventory (PROCSI), New Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (ROCI), and Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R). After removing the incomplete questionnaires, the data related to 111 people (17 men and 94 women) were analyzed. Simultaneous correlation and regression methods were used to analyze the data.
 
Results: Anxious and avoidant insecure attachment can predict significantly 27% of the variance of PROCSI scores (P= 0.001). Anxious and avoidant insecure attachment can predict 29% of the variance of ROCI scores significantly (P= 0.001). Avoidant and especially anxious insecure attachment in a meaningful model was able to predict the signs of obsession with the relationship with the spouse (P< 0.01).
 
Conclusion: Insecure attachment is important in creating Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ROCD). We found a relationship between self-perception and others-perception and symptoms of ROCD.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 26, Issue 3
May and June 2024
Pages 165-172

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