Determining the relationships between obsessive belief levels, adverse childhood events. Cognitive distortions and rumination in adult individuals

Obsessive beliefs risen as misinterpreted and unwanted intrusive thoughts, with the emergence of certain unwanted mental interventions. are cognitive processes that lead individuals at risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationships between obsessive beliefs and childhood negative experiences, rumination and cognitive distortions. For this purpose, 346 volunteers (178 females and 168 males) were given the sociodemographic form, Obsessive Beliefs Questionnare- 44 (OBQ), Childhood Negative Experiences Scale (ACE), Ruminative Thinking Style Questionnare (RTSQ) and Cognitive Distortions Scale (CDS). The obsessive belief levels of the participants were categorized as low, intermediate and high with percentile grouping, and the differences between these three groups were investigated with the scores of ACE, RTSQ, CDS and its sub-dimensions. According to the findings, participants with high obsessive beliefs had significantly higher childhood negative experiences, rumination and cognitive distortion scores compared to participants with low obsessive beliefs. Significantly higher total obsessive beliefs, responsibility, perfectionism and thoughts obsessive belief sub-dimensions scores were found in male participants compared to female participants. On the other hand, female participants had more childhood negative experiences compared to male participants. In conclusion, this study explains the nature of obsessive beliefs considering the factors of childhood negative experiences, rumination and cognitive distortions and its sub-dimensions. Clinicians should consider targeting these factors when treating obsessive beliefs and OCD.