Impact of Religiosity on Coping with Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, distressing thoughts that are experienced by the majority of individuals, and are one of the key features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is theorized that maladaptive beliefs about intrusive thoughts, such as thoughtaction fusion (TAF) beliefs, as well as the use of avoidant coping strategies, such as thought suppression, in response to intrusive thoughts may cause them to escalate into obsessions. Religiosity may be another factor that influences the way an individual responds to intrusive thoughts. Previous studies have found that religiosity is related to TAF and the tendency to suppress unwanted thoughts. However, it is unclear whether religiosity impacts the effectiveness of thought suppression. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different coping strategies (thought suppression, acceptance-based approach, and monitor-only control) to manage an intrusive thought on distress and thought frequency, while also taking into consideration levels of religiosity. This study also aimed to test a model in which the relationship between TAF beliefs, thought suppression, and OC symptoms is moderated by religiosity. The results suggest that religiosity does not account for a significant amount of the variance in intrusive thought frequency, anxiety, negative appraisals, or changes in intrusive thought frequency and anxiety over time. Religiosity was also not found to moderate the relationship between TAF beliefs, thought suppression, and OC symptoms. Limitations of the experimental manipulation make interpreting the results from the experimental portion difficult. However, additional exploratory analyses provided evidence showing that thought suppression is related to increased intrusions, higher levels of anxiety, and negative appraisal ratings. The limitations of the current study and directions for future research are discussed.
Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Therapy, Therapy, Spirituality, Religion, Psychotherapy, Psychological Tests, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Religiosity, Thought-action fusion, Thought suppression
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