Perceived parenting attitudes and obsessive compulsive symptoms: Investigating the mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation

The current study investigated the mediating role of the difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) in the relationship between perceived parenting attitudes and obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS). Specifically, the predictor roles of paternal and maternal emotional warmth, overprotection, rejection, and emotion regulation difficulties were examined. The mediating role of the DER was also examined. The sample consisted of 344 individuals living in Türkiye, aged 18 years and older. Convenience sampling method was used to reach the participants through social media posts and e-mails. Data collection instruments were the Demographic Information Form, the short form of EMBU ("My Memories of Upbringing") (s-EMBU), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI). The collected data was analyzed by conducting hierarchical regression analyses and mediation analyses. The findings demonstrated that paternal overprotection, maternal overprotection, and difficulties in emotion regulation significantly predicted obsessive compulsive symptoms. Moreover, DER partially mediated the relationship between maternal overprotection and obsessive compulsive symptoms. The findings were discussed in light of the existing literature.