Association Between Scrupulosity And Personality Characteristics In Individuals With Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms

Scrupulosity is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) defined by religious or moral fears. Although the relationship between personality and OCD has been extensively studied, it remains unclear how personality relates specifically to religious obsessions and scrupulous fears. In the current study, we examined the association between scrupulosity and personality characteristics, including the Five Factor Model (FFM) and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), in a sample of individuals with self-reported obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Seventy-nine participants completed an anonymous online survey. FFM traits did not, but OCPD traits did, explain a significant amount of variance in scrupulosity. We also replicated previous findings showing that individuals with greater OC symptoms score lower on Extraversion and higher on Neuroticism. These findings suggest that scrupulous symptoms may not be specifically linked with any of the FFM personality factors, but may be associated with OCPD. Findings are discussed in the context of cognitive-behavioral theory and practice.