The Relationship Between Multiple Dimensions of Schizotypy and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Inferential Confusion

The relationship between obsessive-compulsive and schizotypal symptoms has been repeatedly mentioned in various studies, but the exact pattern of this relationship is still unclear. Recently, the Inference-Based Approach (IBA) tries to explain this relationship through Inferential Confusion (IC). This study aimed to determine the mediating role of inferential confusion in the relationship between different dimensions of schizotypy and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms (OCS).

The study sample consisted of 341 (158 men and 183 women) university students of Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. Participants were randomly selected by cluster sampling method and completed Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B), Inferential Confusion Questionnaire-Expanded Version (ICQ-EV), and Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). The proposed model was examined by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

Model fit indices (GFI=0.91, RMSEA=0.04, X2/df=1.54) indicated good fit. Results showed that among the three dimensions of schizotypy, only the direct effect of positive schizotypy on obsessive-compulsive symptoms (β=0.60, P<0.001) and inferential confusion (β=0.64, P<0.001) were statistically significant. Also, Bootstrap method showed that only the indirect effect of positive schizotypy on OCS was statistically significant [CI(95%)= 0.01-0.25].

Consistent with previous findings, it seems that the relationship between OCS and schizotypy is meaningful along the positive dimension of schizotypy and inferential confusion can explain this relationship to some extent.