The Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Rumination in Male Students

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between attachment styles and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and rumination in male students. This study was conducted using a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consisted of male high school students in Tehran, from which 391 participants were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. Data collection instruments included an attachment styles questionnaire, an obsessive-compulsive inventory, and a rumination response scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that secure attachment was significantly negatively associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms and rumination, whereas avoidant and anxious attachment styles showed significant positive relationships with these variables. Additionally, rumination was positively and significantly related to obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Regression analysis further demonstrated that attachment styles significantly predicted both obsessive-compulsive symptoms and rumination, with anxious attachment emerging as the strongest predictor. The findings suggest that attachment styles play a significant role in explaining obsessive-compulsive symptoms and rumination, and addressing these factors may be beneficial in developing preventive and therapeutic interventions aimed at improving adolescents’ mental health.