نقش تعدیل‌گری انعطاف‌پذیری روان‌شناختی در رابطه بین نشخوار ذهنی و وسواس فکری-عملی

پرسا جابری; عباس عبداللهی; مهناز ذیحیات کرمانی; ساناز رضائی

Authors

Parsa Jaberi Department of Psychology, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4304-9089
Abbas Abdollahi Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8346-5043
Mahnaz Zihayat Kermani Department of Psychology, Zar.C., Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-0097
Sanaz Rezaei Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-0097

Keywords:

mental rumination, obsessive, compulsive disorder, psychological flexibility, moderation

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the moderating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between mental rumination and obsessive-compulsive disorder among university students.

Methodology: This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consisted of students of the Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, during 2025, from whom 268 participants were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Rumination Questionnaire developed by Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow, the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), and the Dennis and Vander Wal Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire as an indicator of psychological flexibility. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, structural equation modeling, and moderation analysis.

Findings: The results revealed a significant positive association between mental rumination and obsessive-compulsive disorder (r = 0.612, p < 0.001). Psychological flexibility showed a significant negative relationship with obsessive-compulsive disorder (r = -0.531, p < 0.001) and with mental rumination. Structural model analyses demonstrated that rumination positively predicted OCD symptoms (β = 0.56, p = 0.001), whereas psychological flexibility negatively predicted OCD symptoms (β = -0.48, p = 0.001). Furthermore, moderation analyses indicated that psychological flexibility significantly moderated the relationship between rumination and OCD. Specifically, rumination strongly predicted OCD symptoms among individuals with low psychological flexibility (β = 0.63, p = 0.001), whereas this relationship was not significant among those with high psychological flexibility (β = 0.09, p = 0.13). Collectively, the predictors explained 31% of the variance in OCD symptoms.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that mental rumination is an important cognitive vulnerability factor associated with increased obsessive-compulsive symptoms, whereas psychological flexibility functions as a protective factor. Higher levels of psychological flexibility appear to buffer the detrimental impact of rumination on OCD symptoms. Therefore, interventions aimed at enhancing psychological flexibility may contribute to reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms and improving overall psychological well-being.

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