Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: Associations with Attachment Styles and Psychological Resilience in a Greek Adult Sample

Introduction: Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder with significant implications for functioning and quality of life. Beyond cognitive and biological approaches, contemporary theoretical perspectives emphasize the role of interpersonal factors and protective mechanisms in understanding the psychopathology of OCD. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment styles and psychological resilience and their association with obsessive–compulsive symptomatology in an adult Greek population. It was hypothesized that insecure attachment styles (avoidant and fearful), but not secure attachment, would be associated with higher levels of obsessive–compulsive symptoms, and that insecure attachment styles and lower psychological resilience would significantly predict obsessive–compulsive symptom levels. Method: The sample consisted of 109 adults (74 women, 35 men) who completed the Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised Scale (ECR-R), the Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory–Revised (OCI-R), and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Data were analyzed using analyses of variance and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The findings indicated that insecure attachment styles (avoidant and fearful) were associated with higher levels of obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Moreover, both insecure attachment styles and reduced psychological resilience emerged as statistically significant predictors of obsessive–compulsive symptom levels. Conclusions: The results underscore the importance of interpersonal attachment patterns and psychological resilience in the understanding and clinical treatment of OCD, highlighting the need for comprehensive therapeutic interventions that incorporate these factors.