Amy Mariaskin dissertation

181 Pages·2009·0.99 MB·English

The Roles of Parenting and Moral Socialization in Obsessive-Compulsive
Belief and Symptom Development
by
Amy Mariaskin
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Duke University

Date:_______________________
Approved:

___________________________
John F. Curry, Ph.D., Supervisor

___________________________
Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Ph.D.

___________________________
Philip R. Costanzo, Ph.D.

___________________________
Martha Putallaz, Ph.D.

___________________________
David B. Wong, Ph.D.

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctorate
of Philosophy in the Department of
Psychology and Neuroscience in the Graduate School
of Duke University

2009
ABSTRACT
The Roles of Parenting and Moral Socialization in Obsessive-Compulsive
Belief and Symptom Development
by
Amy Mariaskin
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Duke University

Date:_______________________
Approved:

___________________________
John F. Curry, Ph.D., Supervisor

___________________________
Jonathan S. Abramowitz, Ph.D.

___________________________
Philip R. Costanzo, Ph.D.

___________________________
Martha Putallaz, Ph.D.

___________________________
David B. Wong, Ph.D.

An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Doctorate in the Department of
Psychology and Neuroscience in the Graduate School
of Duke University

2009
Copyright by
Amy Mariaskin
2009
Abstract
Despite the prominence of cognitive theories of anxiety disorders, which posit
that thoughts can affect the expression of psychopathology, empirical investigation of
the origins of such thoughts is scant. In the study of obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD), a number of cognitive factors, deemed obsessive beliefs, have been identified as
correlates of the disorder. Although both parenting behaviors and obsessive beliefs
have demonstrated associations with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, research
exploring the relations between all three of these constructs has been heretofore limited.
Moreover, given the moral content of some obsessions and compulsions (e.g. praying,
harm prevention techniques), it is possible that specific moral socialization techniques
serve to promote obsessive beliefs.
This study investigated parenting, obsessive beliefs, moral socialization and
obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a large non-clinical sample (N=288). Thirty-four
students who were measured as relatively high or low on obsessive beliefs subsequently
completed an additional procedure in which they were interviewed about moral
socialization. Results provided support for a model in which obsessive beliefs served as
a mediator of the relations between parenting behaviors and symptom levels. Adding
self-conscious emotions to the model as a covariate significantly improved overall fit
statistics. With respect to moral socialization, few differences emerged in the moral

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socialization histories of individuals relatively high or low on obsessive beliefs.
However, those in the high obsessive beliefs group were more likely to report
relationship-centered discipline (i.e. the parent using damage to the parent-child
relationship as a vehicle for punishment) than those in the low obsessive beliefs group.

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Contents
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... iv
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. ix
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ x
Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... xi
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Overview and specific aims ............................................................................................ 1
1.2 Background and significance ........................................................................................ 10
1.2.1 Elevated Levels of Particular Beliefs are Found in Obsessive-Compulsive
Adults ................................................................................................................................... 11
1.2.2 Obsessive beliefs demonstrate manipulability ...................................................... 27
1.2.3 Manipulability in the family setting ....................................................................... 30
1.2.4 Certain parenting characteristics are associated with obsessive-compulsive
symptoms ............................................................................................................................ 31
1.2.5 Parenting may influence the development of obsessive beliefs ......................... 37
1.2.6 Moral socialization and obsessive beliefs .............................................................. 43
1.2.7 Higher levels of guilt- and shame-proneness are found in individuals with
OCD ...................................................................................................................................... 54
1.2.8 Parent and child reports of parenting .................................................................... 59
1.3 Summary of current study hypotheses ....................................................................... 60
2. Method ..................................................................................................................................... 64
2.1 Participants ...................................................................................................................... 64
2.2 Procedure ......................................................................................................................... 65

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2.2.1 Wave One measures .................................................................................................. 67
2.2.2 Wave Two measures ................................................................................................. 71
2.2.3 Caregiver Wave measures ........................................................................................ 76
2.2 Statistical analyses .......................................................................................................... 77
3. Results ....................................................................................................................................... 81
3.1 Relations between parenting, obsessive Beliefs, and Symptom Levels (Wave One)
................................................................................................................................................. 83
3.2 Results from the Moral Socialization in the Family Interview (Wave Two) .......... 89
3.3 Parent-reported and Participant-reported Parenting Measures (Caregiver Wave)
................................................................................................................................................. 93
3.4 Relations of Obsessive Beliefs to Anxious and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms
................................................................................................................................................. 97
4. Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 99
4.1 Wave One Data ............................................................................................................. 101
4.2 Wave Two Data ............................................................................................................ 105
4.3 Caregiver Wave Data ................................................................................................... 108
4.4 Study Limitations ......................................................................................................... 110
5. Appendix ................................................................................................................................ 114
5.1 Wave One Measures .................................................................................................... 114
5.2 Wave Two Measures .................................................................................................... 127
5.3 Caregiver Wave Measures .......................................................................................... 144
5.4 Other Forms .................................................................................................................. 148
References .................................................................................................................................. 150

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Biography ................................................................................................................................... 169

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List of Tables
Table 1: Overall sample characteristics .................................................................................... 81
Table 2: Correlations between indicators ................................................................................ 82
Table 3: Means and standard deviations of indicator variables ........................................... 84
Table 4: Model fit indices for all models .................................................................................. 89
Table 5: Characteristics of high- versus low-OBQ participants in Wave Two ................... 90
Table 6: Cohen's Kappa values for Moral Socialization in the Family interview .............. 91
Table 7: Correlations between parent- and participant-reported scales on the EMBU and
PIRBS ............................................................................................................................................ 94
Table 8: Correlations between mother/participant-reported parenting scales and
symptoms/beliefs for participants with mother-reported data (n=32) ................................ 96
Table 9: Correlations between father/participant-reported parenting scales and
symptoms/beliefs for participants with father-reported data (n=28) .................................. 97

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List of Figures
Figure 1: Model of Parenting, Obsessive Beliefs, Symptom Levels, and Shame (Model 1)
....................................................................................................................................................... 85
Figure 2: Model of Parenting, Obsessive Beliefs, Symptom Levels, and Shame (Model 2)
....................................................................................................................................................... 87
Figure 3: Model of Parenting, Obsessive Beliefs, and Symptom Levels (Model 3) ........... 88

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