Predicting Childhood OCD Symptoms: The Mediating Effect of Self-concept on Religiosity, Guilt, and Parental Perfectionism

Objective: This study aimed to develop and test a structural model predicting obsessive–compulsive symptoms in children based on parental religious adherence, guilt, and perfectionism, with the mediating role of children’s self-concept. Methods: A correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted with 240 elementary school children and their mothers in Yazd Province, Iran, during the 2023–2024 academic year. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Standardized questionnaires, including the obsessive beliefs questionnaire for children and adolescents, religious adherence questionnaire, guilt questionnaire, Frost multidimensional perfectionism questionnaire, and children’s self-concept questionnaire, were administered. Results: SEM analysis revealed that children’s self-concept significantly mediated the relationship between parental religious adherence, guilt, perfectionism, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. The model showed acceptable fit indices, supporting the hypothesized relationships. Conclusion: The findings highlight the critical role of parental factors and self-concept in shaping children’s mental health. This study contributes theoretically by clarifying the cognitive–emotional mechanisms linking family dynamics to obsessive–compulsive vulnerability. Practical implications suggest the need for family-based interventions that strengthen children’s self-concept, while future research should address longitudinal designs and diverse populations