Intergenerational transmission of relationship-related obsessive compulsive symptoms: Roles of insecure attachment styles and perfectionism

Looking through literature, it has been determined that there are numerous studies on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but relatively few on Relationship-Related OCD (ROCD) symptoms which have been added to the literature in a decade , and there are even no studies on the intergenerational transmission of relationship-related OCD symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of insecure attachment styles and perfectionism in the transmission of relationship-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms from mothers to offspring. The participants in the study consist of 139 late adolescents and mother dyads. The results revealed that both anxious attachment style and perfectionism, as well as avoidant attachment style and then perfectionism, played a serial mediating role in the relationship between parent-child-focused obsessive-compulsive symptoms and relationship-focused obsessive-compulsive symptoms. On the other hand, while the avoidant attachment style and then perfectionism had a serial mediating role in the relationship between parent-child-focused obsessive-compulsive symptoms and partner-focused obsessive-compulsive symptoms, it was found that anxious attachment style and perfectionism did not have a serial mediating effect on this relationship. The findings of the study were discussed through empirical data obtained from the literature. Based on attachment theory and techniques related to perfectionist tendencies, several v recommendations for therapeutic treatments aimed at the familial transmission of relationship-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms have been made.