Abstract
Background and Objective: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental disorder, with scrupulosity representing a distinct dimension characterized by excessive moral and religious concerns. This study aimed to investigate the impact of thought-action fusion and dysfunctional interpretation of thoughts on the severity of scrupulosity in individuals with OCD, emphasizing the mediating role of neuroticism through structural equation modeling.
Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study employed a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, conducted on 204 individuals with OCD who visited psychological clinics in Khoy and Urmia during the 1403-1404 period. Data were collected using the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity, Thought-Action Fusion Questionnaire, Dysfunctional Thoughts Questionnaire, and Neuroticism Questionnaire, and analyzed with SPSS and Smart PLS software. Model fit indices and direct and indirect effects were evaluated using the bootstrap method.
Findings: Results indicated that thought-action fusion (β=0.27) and dysfunctional interpretation of thoughts (β=0.20) had a significant positive direct effect on scrupulosity. Neuroticism, with a direct coefficient of 0.32 and indirect coefficients of 0.12 (for thought-action fusion) and 0.11 (for dysfunctional interpretation of thoughts), played a mediating role. Model fit indices (SRMR=0.057, NFI=0.91, GoF=0.53) confirmed a strong fit. Neuroticism intensified negative emotions, reinforcing cycles of self-blame and moral anxiety.
Conclusion: Neuroticism, as a mediator, amplified the cognitive effects of thought-action fusion and dysfunctional interpretation of thoughts on scrupulosity severity. These findings underscore the importance of integrated cognitive-behavioral and emotion-regulation interventions, considering cultural-religious contexts. Future studies are recommended to adopt longitudinal designs and explore other personality dimensions.