The Mediating Role of Psychological Distress in the Relationship between Inferential Confusion and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress) in the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The research method was descriptive-correlational (path analysis) and the statistical population of the study was all Social network users (between 20 to 50 years old) in mashhad in year 2022. Using the available sampling method, 345 subjects participated in the research through an online survey. The instruments used in this study include Obsessive-Compulsive Insentory-Revised (OCI-R), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Inferential Confusion Questionnaire (ICQ-EV). Data analysis done through Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis. The findings showed that inferential confusion has a direct and significant relationship with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Also, psychological distress had a mediating role in the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the model has a good fit. According to the research results and the mediating role of psychological distress in the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, In condition of high psychological distress, the relation of inferential confusion with obsessive-compulsive symptoms is stronger than when the components of depression, anxiety and stress are low. Also, planning to reduce psychological distress can be effective in reducing the effect of inferential confusion on obsessive-compulsive symptoms.