Obsessive beliefs prospectively predict adherence to safety behaviours related to COVID-19 through obsessive–compulsive symptoms and COVID-19 distress: A serial multiple mediator analysis

TRAK E., Inozu M.

International Journal of Psychology, vol.57, no.5, pp.559-566, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 57 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/ijop.12844
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Psychology
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, IBZ Online, Periodicals Index Online, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MEDLINE, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, SportDiscus
  • Page Numbers: pp.559-566
  • Keywords: Obsessive beliefs, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, COVID-19 distress, Safety behaviours, INVENTORY, ANXIETY
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2022 International Union of Psychological Science.Obsessive–compulsive tendencies may render individuals vulnerable to elevated distress and over-adherence to safety behaviours during illness outbreaks. The present study investigated obsessive beliefs as a predictor of obsessive–compulsive symptoms, COVID-19 distress and the exercise of safety behaviours related to COVID-19 in a community sample. Four hundred seventy-nine participants responded to a questionnaire battery in March 2020 and 218 individuals participated in a follow-up assessment in September 2020. Results indicated that baseline obsessive beliefs predicted the exercise of baseline safety behaviours through obsessive–compulsive symptoms and COVID-19 distress. In addition, the relationship between baseline obsessive beliefs and safety behaviour adoption 6 months later was mediated by later obsessive–compulsive symptoms and COVID-19 distress. Findings extended prior research on the association between obsessive–compulsive phenomena and psychological changes related to illness outbreaks. The implications for prevention and treatment strategies are discussed.