The relationship between contamination cognitions, anxiety, and disgust in two ethnic groups

Background and objectivesObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is understudied in African Americans, thus little is known about factors that might predispose this group to obsessive-compulsive anxiety. Prior research has shown that African Americans endorse more concerns about contamination, but it is not known how these differences relate to variables, such as beliefs or cognitions about contamination, the emotion of disgust, and anxiety sensitivity. The current study examined Black-White differences in contamination cognitions in a non-clinical sample (N = 245).MethodsEuropean American and African American participants completed measures of contamination cognitions, anxiety, OCD, and disgust.ResultsAfrican Americans exhibited significantly stronger contamination cognitions, as measured by the Contamination Concerns Scale. Multiple regression analysis showed that contamination concerns were predicted by disgust sensitivity, ethnicity/race, and gender. Neither anxiety sensitivity nor pathological washing behaviors were significant factors in the model.LimitationsStudy should be replicated in additional populations as generalizability beyond a college student population is not known.ConclusionsAfrican Americans are no more sensitive to disgust or anxiety than European Americans, but nonetheless have greater concerns about the severity of contamination surrounding certain items. This may predispose African Americans with OCD to symptoms involving contamination.

► African Americans are more concerned about contamination severity than European Americans.
► Racial differences in contamination cognitions are not due to greater anxiety sensitivity.
► Racial differences in contamination cognitions are not due to greater washing behaviors.
► African Americans with OCD may be predisposed to contamination symptoms.