Neuroticism and Religiosity: The Role of Obsessive Beliefs, Thought-Control Strategies and Guilt in Scrupulosity and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Among Muslim Undergraduates

J Relig Health. 2020 Jun;59(3):1144-1160. doi: 10.1007/s10943-018-0603-5.

Abstract

Neuroticism and religiosity are distal vulnerability factors for OCD phenomenon. The present study aimed to examine the roles of obsessive beliefs (OBs), thought-control strategies, and guilt in the relationship between these vulnerability factors and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCSs), specifically scrupulosity symptoms in a Muslim sample via SEM. The sample consisted of 273 university students who filled out a set of questionnaires. The results indicated that neuroticism and the degree of religiosity predict OBs that are positively associated with guilt and self-punishment both of which predict scrupulosity and other OCSs. Findings of the present study were discussed in the context of the related literature.

Keywords: Cognitive model of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD); Guilt; Obsessive–compulsive symptoms; Scrupulosity; Vulnerability factors.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Guilt
  • Humans
  • Islam*
  • Male
  • Neuroticism*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / psychology*
  • Religion and Psychology
  • Spirituality
  • Students / psychology*
  • Young Adult