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The structure of obsessionality among young adults
Author(s) -
Mathews Carol A.,
Jang Kerry L.,
Hami Shadha,
Stein Murray B.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.20028
Subject(s) - psychology , clinical psychology
Although the phenomenology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is well understood, less is known about the structure of obsessive symptoms in non‐clinical populations. The present study examines the factorial structure of the Leyton Obsessional Inventory short form (LOI‐SF) in a sample of 1,015 undergraduate college students. Four factors were extracted describing concerns about contamination (labeled the Contamination factor); repeating behaviors or uncomfortable thoughts or doubts (labeled the Doubts/Repeating factor); checking behaviors, too much attention to detail, honesty concerns, strict conscience and strict routine (labeled the Checking/Detail factor); and taking a long time to dress and to hang up and put away clothing, as well as belief in extremely unlucky numbers (labeled Worries/Just Right factor). Self‐report measures of anxiety and ADHD symptoms were correlated positively with these factors, particularly with the checking/detail factor. The prevalence, symptom structure, and patterns of comorbidity seen in this sample of unselected college students are similar to the patterns seen in adolescents with OCD, suggesting that obsessional symptoms and OCD may exist along a continuum. Depression and Anxiety 20:77–85, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.