Deficiency in Self-Control: Unraveling Psychological and Behavioral Risk Factors for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in College Students

Abstract

Objective

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex mental disorder to treat. However, there are some deficiencies in research performed to date about the psychological and behavioral factors that may trigger obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). Based on the Psychopathology of Self-Control Theory which states that deficits in self-control underpin psychiatric symptoms, this study investigated the factors influencing OCS among college students.

Methods

A total of 5599 non-clinical Chinese college students were recruited to complete the Chinese version of the Self-Control Scale, Aitken Procrastination Inventory, and Symptom Checklist-90. Pearson’s correlation analyses and the bootstrap method were performed to test our hypothesis.

Results

The following results were obtained: (a) There were significant correlations among self-control, procrastination, anxiety, and OCS. (b) When controlling for the effects of age and sex, self-control remained a significant negative predictor of OCS. (c) The mediating roles of procrastination and anxiety, and the chain mediating role of procrastination and anxiety were the three predicted pathways linking self-control and OCS.

Conclusion

This study highlights the significance of self-control deficiencies in OCS. It provides new insights into the psychological and behavioral factors that increase the risk of OCS with important practical implications for early intervention in OCD.

Keywords:

• obsessive-compulsive symptoms
• self-control
• procrastination
• anxiety
• chain mediating effect

Data Share Statement

The data of the present study supporting the conclusions will be made available on request by the corresponding author.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study has been reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of the Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China (ethical approval number: IRB-22-001).

Informed Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Acknowledgment

The authors sincerely thank anonymous reviewers’ constructive comments and each participant for their cooperation during the investigation.

Disclosure

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by National Social Science Foundation of China (Major Program): 19ZDA021.