An experimental investigation of contamination-related reassurance seeking: Familiar versus unfamiliar others
Abstract
Background and objectives Repeated reassurance seeking (RS) is a hallmark feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Research in related areas of psychopathology suggests that familiarity with a partner can influence symptom expression. We hypothesized that participants in the company of a familiar (vs. unfamiliar) partner would seek more reassurance following an ambiguous task involving contamination-related threat. Methods Participants completed an ambiguous dishwashing task in the company of a familiar or unfamiliar other, and were subsequently given an opportunity to seek reassurance. Participants and their assigned partners completed a measure of RS wherein they reported the number of times the participant sought reassurance; actual reassurance seeking was coded based on a recording of the interaction. Results Results demonstrated that participants sought more reassurance from familiar (vs. unfamiliar) others F(3, 86) = 9.20, p < .001, partial η(2) = .24); this effect was robust when partner-reported (F(1, 88) = 27.04, p < .001, partial η(2) = .24), a trend when participant-reported (F(1, 88) = 2.72, p = .10, partial η(2) = .03), but not significant when using objectively-coded data (F(1, 88) = 0.14, p = .71, partial η(2) = .00). Limitations As this experiment was a preliminary attempt to examine RS in an interpersonal context, the study may not have captured compulsive or excessive RS. Conclusions Overall, results suggest that RS may be perceived as more excessive by familiar (versus unfamiliar) others, which may contribute to the distress experienced by carers of individuals with OCD.
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Supportive responses are probably more beneficial than outright refusal to give reassurance.
“more supportive statements are likely to be more helpful than simply refusing to provide it (Neal & Radomsky, 2015).”
From Fear and Anxiety in COVID-19: Preexisting Anxiety Disorders (2021) · cites this paper as Neal & Radomsky, 2015
The Discussion (pp. 19, 23) addresses partner familiarity, reassurance seeking, and possible intervention targets, but does not compare supportive responses with refusing reassurance. Searches for supportive statements, refusal, and reassurance responses found no passage making that comparison. (LLM, conf=0.73)
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- Authors
- Neal, R. L., & Radomsky, A. S.
- Affiliations
- Concordia University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Radomsky, Adam S.
- Venue
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-12
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- Pt B
- Pages
- 188-194
- ISSN
- 0005-7916 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2078964328
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 1.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Spectrum Research Repository (Concordia University) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FRN#MOP102552)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- reassurance seeking, obsessive-compulsive disorder, contamination, familiarity, interpersonal context, partner perceptions, caregiver distress
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Social Behavior, Recognition, Psychology, Young Adult
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