The mediating role of fear of self and obsessive beliefs in the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms

Previous research has highlighted the potential role of inferential confusion in the development and maintenance of obsessive- compulsive disorder symptoms. In some of these studies, the factors predicting obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, including fear of self and obsessive beliefs, have been identified, but the mediating mechanisms of this relationship have not been identified yet.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of fear of self and obsessive beliefs in the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms.

The research method was correlational and structural equation medeling. The statistical population of the study included all social network users in mashhad in year 2022, from which 300 subjects  participated were selected by available sampling method. To collect research data, measures of Obsessive-Compulsive Insentory-Revised (Foa et al., 2002), Feared Self Questionnaire (Aardema et al., 2013), Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OCCWG, 1997), and Inferential Confusion Questionnaire (Aardema et al., 2010) were used. Data analysis done through structural equation modeling using path analysis method by SPSS26 and AMOS22 softwares.

The results showed that inferential confusion (β=0.19), fear of self (β=0.23) and obsessive beliefs (β=0.55) had a positive and significant effect on obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms (P<0.01). Also, the direct effect of inferential confusion on fear of self (β=0.60) and obsessive beliefs (β=0.58) was significant (P<0.01). Regarding the indirect effect, inferential confusion had a significant effect on obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms through the mediating variable of obsessive beliefs (β=0.31) and fear of self (β=0.13) (P<0.05).

Acording to the role of fear of self and obsessive beliefs in the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, planning to reduce fear of self and obsessive beliefs can reduce the effect of inferential confusion on obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms.