(PS4-92) Association Between Religiosity and Obsessive-compulsive Symptoms and Cognitions: A Meta-analysis

Background: The relationship between religion and mental health is complex: while religion often serves as a protective buffer against anxiety and depression, religious struggles can also cause psychological distress (e.g., Weber & Pargament, 2014). Recognizing similarities between obsessional cognitive styles and religious doctrine, researchers speculated that religion may confer a risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; e.g., Rachman, 1997). Whereas cultural variables such as religion influence the manifestation of OCD (e.g., scrupulosity), most evidence seems to indicate that religion does not predict OCD symptom severity or diagnostic status (e.g., Siev et al., 2017). To gain a better understanding of this issue, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the association between religiosity and OCD symptoms and cognitions.

Method: A comprehensive search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and SSCI, as well as examining relevant publications, initially yielded 1247 articles in July 2023. The final analysis included 48 peer-reviewed empirical studies, which satisfied the inclusion criteria of being written in English with quantitative measures of religiosity and OCD. Supplementary data were provided by the authors of 13 studies. Analyses were conducted using random-effects models in Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.

Results: Across all studies reporting OCD symptoms (n = 42), the overall weighted effect size indicated a weak association between religiosity and OCD symptoms (g = 0.17, 95% CI [0.06, 0.27], p = .002) but exhibited high heterogeneity (Q(41) = 338.94, p < .001, I² = 87.90). Among studies examining nonclinical samples (n = 34), the weighted effect size was similarly small (g = 0.25, 95% CI [0.21, 0.29], p < .001). In contrast, we found no evidence of association for studies with clinical samples (n = 8; g = -0.08, 95% CI [-0.21, 0.05], p = .228). In all studies measuring symptoms of scrupulosity (n = 14), the weighted effect size for the association between religiosity and scrupulosity symptoms was moderate (g = 0.70, 95% CI [0.64, 0.77], p < .001). There was also a high degree of heterogeneity (Q(13) = 194.76, p < .001, I² = 93.33). In studies with clinical (n = 2) and nonclinical (n = 12) samples, the weighted effect sizes were both moderate (g = 0.62, 95% CI [0.21, 1.03], p = .003; g = 0.71, 95% CI [0.64, 0.77], p < .001).

Discussion: Across the literature, there was a weak association between religiosity and OCD, and no relationship in studies involving clinical samples. As expected, scrupulosity was moderately associated with religiosity. In the final poster, we will also examine the associations between religiosity and obsessional cognitions, as well as symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression. Especially in light of high heterogeneity, we will also test possible moderators related to methodological variability. Implications for clinical treatment and rapport building in clinicians will be discussed.