Publication Date

2023

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Wu, Kevin D.

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

Research related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the LGBTQ+ community has been limited to date. However, at least one previous study has indicated that the "unacceptable thoughts" symptom dimension of OCD may be particularly relevant to this population. The current study sought to examine whether LGBTQ+ individuals report greater levels than non-LGBTQ+ individuals of scrupulosity symptoms, or religious- and/or moral-based OCD symptoms that often are grouped into the unacceptable thoughts dimension. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires measuring several constructs, which the author proposed may be particularly relevant to the development and maintenance of scrupulosity symptoms among members of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, the study sought to replicate past findings indicating differences in obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms between LGTBQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ participants as well as to extend those findings by demonstrating possible mechanisms by which such differences may occur. Results indicated that LGBTQ+ participants experienced greater levels of "unacceptable thoughts" (t(207) = 5.11, p < .001, Cohen’s d = 0.71) and scrupulosity symptoms (t(202) = 5.74, p < .001, Cohen’s d = 0.80) than did non-LGBTQ+ participants. Further, fear-of-self partially mediated the association between family acceptance of LGBTQ+ identity and scrupulosity symptoms (b = .42, SE = .11, CI95 = .20 to .66), whereas family acceptance of LGBTQ+ identity moderated an association between religiosity and scrupulosity symptoms (b = .04, p = .03). These results suggest that domains related to identity, family acceptance, and religion may be of particular importance to OC symptoms in LGBTQ+ individuals and may warrant special consideration in research and treatment efforts within this population.

Extent

79 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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