Relationships between Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder with Parental Anxiety and Attachment Styles in 12–18-year-old Adolescents

Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental disorder among children and adolescents. Parental anxiety seems to be linked or associated with some psychological disorders in children. The emotional atmosphere of the home as well as parental anxiety and quality of life can affect the intensity of OCD in children. Aim: This study was done to analyze any relationship between OCD with parental anxiety and attachment styles of adolescents aged 12–18 years in Rafsanjan (Iran). Settings and Design: A descriptive/correlational study was designed to investigate the research question. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on adolescents aged 12–18 years with OCD, including 57 girls and 67 boys. The data were collected using the Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory–Child Version (OCI-CV), the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment-Revised, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Statistical Analysis: The relationships of variables were analyzed through crude and adjusted models in gender-specific regression analysis. Results: Parental anxiety had positive significant relationships with all dimensions of OCD in female adolescents, except for orders which had an inverse relationship ( P < 0.05). In terms of attachment styles, trust in parents showed a positive significant relationship with only one of the OCD dimensions (i.e., ordering) ( P < 0.05). In addition, there were inverse significant relationships between alienation from parents and four dimensions of OCD, i.e., hoarding, doubting/checking, neutralizing, and ordering ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings suggested a relationship between parental anxiety and attachment styles caused by OCD in adolescents. Therefore, counseling programs are recommended to increase parents’ and children’s awareness of interpersonal interactions.