Modeling Obsessive Beliefs Based on Parenting Styles, Cognitive-Attentional Syndrome, and Inferential Confusion with the Mediating Role of Fear of Self

The present study aimed to model obsessive beliefs based on parenting styles, cognitive-attentional syndrome, and inferential confusion, with the mediating role of fear of self in individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on a sample of 130 individuals clinically diagnosed with OCD, who were referred to psychology clinics and psychiatric offices in Shiraz, Iran. Participants were selected using convenience random sampling. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ), Fear of Self Questionnaire, Parent–Child Relationship Questionnaire, Cognitive-Attentional Syndrome Scale (CAS-91), and Inferential Confusion Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS, and the significance of direct and indirect effects was tested through bootstrapping procedures. Model fit was assessed using multiple indices including RMSEA, CFI, GFI, and TLI. Results showed that parenting styles (β = 0.52), cognitive-attentional syndrome (β = 0.44), and inferential confusion (β = 0.65) had significant total effects on obsessive beliefs (p < .001), with fear of self mediating all relationships. The direct effect of fear of self on obsessive beliefs was also significant (β = 0.32, p < .001). The explained variance for obsessive beliefs was 54%, and for fear of self was 45%. All model fit indices indicated an excellent model fit (χ²/df = 1.87; CFI = 0.97; GFI = 0.93; RMSEA = 0.06). The findings highlight the pivotal role of fear of self as a mediating psychological mechanism linking cognitive vulnerabilities and parenting styles to obsessive beliefs in individuals with OCD. The integrated model offers valuable insights for enhancing assessment and intervention strategies by targeting underlying self-related beliefs and maladaptive parenting influences.