(PS3-C75) The Role of Covid-related Cognitive Impairment on Obsessive-compulsive Symptoms Beyond Anxiety Sensitivity and Emotion Dysregulation

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused wide-spread and substantial adverse psychological effects (Taylor, 2019), which may be particularly burdensome among those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who report greater COVID-19-related concerns compared to those in the community as well as increases in OCD symptoms and impairment (Wheaton et al., 2021). Anxiety sensitivity (AS) and emotion dysregulation are well known underlying factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of OCD symptoms (Stern et al., 2014; Wheaton et al., 2012). However, research is limited on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on OCD symptoms among university students who have experienced substantial increases in stress and functional impairment due to COVID-19-related concerns (Schiff et al., 2021). Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the effect of COVID-19-related cognitive distress and impairments on OCD symptoms beyond AS and emotion dysregulation among a university sample.

Participants included 253 university students (M_age = 19.1 years; 76.7% female) who completed self-report assessments designed to measure AS (Anxiety Sensitivity Index–3; Taylor et al., 2007), emotion dysregulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), COVID-19 cognitive distress and impairment (COVID-19 Adult Symptom & Psychological Experience Questionnaire; Ladouceur, 2020), and OCD symptoms (Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale; Abramowitz et al., 2010).

A hierarchical linear regression was conducted to examine the role of COVID-19-related cognitive distress and impairment on OCD symptoms beyond AS and emotion dysregulation. AS (ß =.26, p = .001) and emotion dysregulation (ß =.25, p = .001) were entered into the first step of the model and significantly predicted OCD symptoms (R² =.21, F[2,247] = 33.42, p < .001). COVID-19-related cognitive distress and impairment (ß =.22, p = .001) was entered into the second step of the model and significantly predicted OCD symptoms beyond AS and emotion dysregulation (ΔR² = .02, ΔF[1, 246] = 12.12, p = .001). The overall model significantly predicted OCD symptoms (total R² = .25, F(3, 246) = 27.32, p < .001). Follow-up exploratory analyses examining dimensions of AS and emotion dysregulation identified AS cognitive concerns (ß =.27, p = .005) as well as COVID-19-related cognitive distress and impairment (ß =.24, p = .001) as the strongest predictors of OC symptoms.

Findings demonstrate that both AS and emotion dysregulation predict OCD symptoms. COVID-19 related cognitive distress and impairment significantly predicted OCD symptoms beyond AS and emotion dysregulation. Clinical implications, limitations, and future directions will be discussed.