Predicting the severity of obsessive-compulsive syndrome based on perceived parenting style: The mediating role of obsessive beliefs

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) reduces the quality of life and is the fourth most common psychiatric disorder. Therefore, it is important to investigate the causes of the development and maintenance of this syndrome. The present study aimed to predict the severity of Obsessive-Compulsive Syndrome (OCS) based on perceived parenting style through the mediating role of obsessive beliefs.

The present study was descriptive-correlational and path analysis. Among the people who were referred to counseling centers in Mashhad, Iran for the treatment of OCD in 2020-2021, 200 cases were selected by the convenient sampling. Data were collected using the Yale-Brown, Obsessive Beliefs, and Young parenting style scales. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and path analysis. 

The findings showed that there was a significant correlation (P <0.01) between the Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) of emotional deprivation, abandonment/instability, defectiveness/shame, and unrelenting standards, and obsessive beliefs with the severity of OCS. In addition, the results of Bootstrap indicate that the mediating role of obsessive beliefs was significant about the mentioned EMSs with the severity of OCS (χ2/df = 1.93, P= 0.001). 

Based on the findings, early maladaptive schemas of emotional deprivation, abandonment/instability, defectiveness/shame, and unrelenting standards can predict the severity of obsessive-compulsive syndrome through the mediating role of obsessive beliefs. Therefore, interventions based on parenting style education to reduce obsessive beliefs can be considered as prevention and treatment programs in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients.