Exploring the unique and interactive roles of distress tolerance and negative urgency in obsessions

Recent research has implicated relationships between emotion dysregulation and obsessions. Evidence suggests low distress tolerance and greater tendency to act impulsively in the face of negative affect (or negative urgency) are strongly related to obsessions. The current study sought to examine the unique and interactive roles of distress tolerance and negative urgency in the prediction of obsessions. A large non-clinical sample (N = 238) was administered a range of self-report measures. Results revealed that both poor distress tolerance and greater negative urgency were uniquely associated with obsessions but not other obsessive–compulsive symptoms, even when controlling for gender, depression, anxiety, and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. Additionally, low distress tolerance and high negative urgency interacted with each other in the prediction of greater obsession symptoms. Overall, the findings help clarify the emerging literature linking emotion dysregulation to obsessions.

► Recent research implicates an important role for emotion dysregulation in obsessions.
► We examined the unique and interactive roles of distress tolerance and negative urgency in obsessions.
► Poor distress tolerance and high negative urgency were uniquely and specifically associated with obsessions.
► An interaction emerged such that obsessions were highest among those with low distress tolerance and high negative urgency.
► The findings help clarify the emerging literature linking emotion dysregulation to obsessions.