The Mediator Role of Covid-19 OCD in the Relationship Between Depression, Emotional Reactivity, and Dysfunctional Health Protective Behaviors

Abstract

Because the Coronavirus disease emerged in 2019 and affected the whole world in a short time, this epidemic was described as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Due to the easy transmission and serious nature of the consequences of the disease, various measures have been taken at the national and international levels. Similarly, the precautions taken at the point of cleanliness and disease prevention have increased the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this context, obsessive-symptoms observed due to the pandemic were named COVID-19 OCD, and dysfunctional health protective behaviors such as avoidance increased their intensity. Therefore, this study aims to determine the role of COVID-19 OCD between depression and emotional reactivity, and dysfunctional health protective behaviors in adults. The study was conducted with 792 participants. The following structural models were tested using LISREL software. As a result of the analysis, "the relationship between emotional reactivity and depression and dysfunctional health protective behaviors is mediated by COVID-19 OCD." The final model expressed as (chi 2/df = 1.93; RMSEA = 0.062, NFI = .97, NNFI = .98, CFI = .98, IFI = .98, SRMR = .054, GFI = .93, AGFI = .91) was found to be confirmed. As a result, it can be said that COVID-19 OCD, which is observed due to the pandemic, directly affects dysfunctional health protective behaviors and depression and emotional reactivity indirectly.