The association of scrupulosity with disgust propensity and contamination based obsessive compulsive symptoms: An experimental investigation using highly scrupulous muslims

- Fear of contamination increases with more intense disgusting stimuli.
- Heightened scrupulosity is associated with higher levels of disgust propensity (DP).
- High scrupulous participants reported higher contamination related symptoms.
- DP seems more pivotal for understanding scrupulosity and contamination relations.
- Findings highlight the influence of religiosity on disgust and contamination.

Background and objectivesThe present study investigated the role of scrupulosity, a rigid religious understanding characterized by fear of God and sinning, in the relationship between disgust and contamination-related OCD in a Muslim sample.MethodThe sample was composed of 209 university students. After an initial screening study, the high (N = 33) and low scrupulous (N = 29) groups were formed. After filling out a self-report questionnaire battery consisting of measures of disgust propensity, obsessive beliefs, and contamination-related cognitions and symptoms, participants were randomly assigned to view either 10 highly disgusting or neutral pictures while imagining themselves in the situation depicted in the picture. After the manipulation, they rated the unpleasantness of the image, emotions, urge to wash and avoid, and also their mood. In the last phase, participants performed a fear provocation task.ResultsThe results indicated that the intensity of disgusting stimuli was positively associated with contamination-related ratings. As expected, high scrupulous participants showed higher disgust propensity and contamination-related symptoms after exposure to the disgust inducing pictures and the fear provocation task.ConclusionsHigh disgust propensity may be a vulnerability factor for contamination based OCD symptoms in highly scrupulous Muslims.