Existential Loneliness among Women with Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies

The present research was conducted to study how existential loneliness parameter presents in obsessive-compulsive condition. To this aim, attitudes and reactions of women with obsessive-compulsive tendencies were investigated in terms of the existential loneliness to obtain a better comprehension of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The research was conducted among Kermani women, Iran, choosing grounded theory qualitative method. Participants were chosen based on Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Sampling was started with snowball purposeful method and followed by theoretical sampling. Theoretical saturation took place with 13 persons. Existential loneliness was probed by means of the semi-structured interviews. The interviewees’ statements were coded and analyzed according to the grounded theory and by means of Strauss and Corbin method.
Acceptance/non-acceptance was the central category and dependence versus independence, defensive and non-accepting coping, and adoptive and accepting coping were the resulted axial categories of this research, each had their subsets. Generally, the tendency toward dependence was more than independence. Participants used defensive and non-accepting mechanisms in confronting to the existential loneliness more than adoptive and accepting coping. Non-acceptance was the main reaction of women with obsessive-compulsive tendencies regarding the existential loneliness.
It seems that non-acceptance of existential loneliness can justify excessive anxieties, dysfunctional copings, and relational problems of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.