EPV934 - Perceived Emotional Threat and OCD Symptoms in a Nonclinical Sample: Examining Group Differences Between People with High vs. Low OCD symptoms
EPV934
Perceived Emotional Threat and OCD Symptoms in a Nonclinical Sample: Examining Group Differences Between People with High vs. Low OCD symptoms
T. Accinni 1,*, P. Cordellieri 2, A. Quaglieri 3, G. D. Kotzalidis 4, M. Panfili 1, A. Maraone 1, M. Pasquini 1, A. Buzzanca 1
1Department of Human Neurosciences, 2Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 3Department of Human and Social Science, Universitas Mercatorum, 4Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Introduction: Research highlights the role of emotional processing in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This study examines differences in perceived emotional threat among individuals with varying obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom levels in a nonclinical sample.
Objectives: To examine Perceptions of Threats from Emotion Questionnaire (PTEQ, 2006) subscale differences between groups with lower and higher OC symptoms, controlling for anxiety, responsibility, somatic awareness, thought–action fusion, education, and age.
Methods: Participants (n=460) completed the PTEQ, Padua Inventory (PI, 1988), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI, 1988), Responsibility Attitude Scale (RAS, 2000), Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ, 2014), and Thought–Action Fusion Scale (TAF, 1996). Participants were split in two groups (below/above mean), and PTEQ subscale differences were examined controlling for BAI, RAS, SAQ, TAF, education, and age.
Results: A statistically significant difference was found in PTEQ subscale scores based on participants’ PI scores, controlling for covariate measures and demographic factors (Wilks’ Λ=0.700, F(8,233)=12.47, p<.001; see Table 1). Covariate measures and demographics also significantly affected responses across emotional subscales (Table 2). Univariate tests showed significant group differences on Sadness (F=65.29, p<.001), Happiness (F=31.59, p<.001), Anger (F=34.10, p<.001), Fear (F=34.75, p<.001), Disgust (F=34.07, p<.001), Guilt (F=50.02, p<.001), Lust (F=22.41, p<.001), and Strong Emotion (F=60.73, p<.001).
Tab. 1 Multivariate Tests for Group Differences on PTEQ Subscales
Test |
Value |
F |
df |
p |
|
Pillai's Trace |
0.2998 |
12.47 |
8 / 233 |
< .001 |
|
Wilks' Lambda |
0.700 |
12.47 |
8 / 233 |
< .001 |
|
Hotelling's Trace |
0.4281 |
12.47 |
8 / 233 |
< .001 |
|
Roy's Largest Root |
0.4281 |
12.47 |
8 / 233 |
< .001 |
Tab. 2 Multivariate Effects of Covariates
Covariate |
Wilks' Lambda |
F |
df |
p |
|
BAI (Anxiety) |
0.825 |
6.19 |
8 / 233 |
< .001 |
|
RAS (Responsibility) |
0.126 |
26.16 |
8 / 233 |
< .001 |
|
SAQ (Somatic Awaren) |
0.916 |
4.88 |
8 / 233 |
0.008 |
|
TAF (Thought-Action) |
0.904 |
8.52 |
8 / 233 |
0.002 |
|
Education Level |
0.761 |
6.57 |
8 / 233 |
0.012 |
|
Age |
0.818 |
11.44 |
8 / 233 |
< .001 |
Conclusions: Individuals with higher OC symptoms (>mean PI score) exhibit increased perception of emotional threat compared to those with lower symptoms (<mean PI). They reported significantly greater threat linked to sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, guilt, lust, and strong emotion. Findings suggest a link between obsessionality and emotion dysregulation, underscoring the relevance of perceived emotional threat in OCD, taking into account anxiety, interoceptive awareness, responsibility beliefs, thought–action fusion, and demographic factors.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared