Exploring Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with Positive Psychological Constructs: A Relational Analysis

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19692354

Mahak Mathur¹, Roopa Mathur², and Amrita Mishra³ (Department of Clinical Psychology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and University, Jaipur, Rajasthan¹, Department of Psychology, IIS Deemed to be University Jaipur, Rajasthan², Thriving Minds Centre, Dehradun, Uttarakhand³)

The study investigated the relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) severity and four positive psychological constructs: Values, Self-Compassion, Psychological Flexibility, and Equanimity. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by primarily the symptoms of obsessions and compulsions. Positive psychological constructs, viz., Values, Self- Compassion, Psychological Flexibility and Equanimity in patients with OCD and its relation with the disorder helps viewing the disorder from a comprehensive lens. A sample of 39 patients diagnosed with OCD was assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) (Goodman et al., 1989), Neff’s Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), the Equanimity Questionnaire(Bond et al., 2011), and the Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ) (Wilson & Groom, 2002). Pearson Correlation and Linear Regression analyses revealed that OCD severity significantly predicts lower levels of self-compassion (R² = .173) and valued living (R² = .158), while strongly predicting increased psychological inflexibility (R² = .351). No significant relationship was found with equanimity. These findings suggest that OCD symptoms deeply impact the psychological mechanisms of flexibility and self-kindness, highlighting the need for third wave interventions in clinical practice.