Emotion regulation is a core process in the onset and persistence of psychological disorders. Intrapersonal strategies such as Suppression and Reappraisal have been widely studied, yet interpersonal strategies including Soothing, Social Modeling, Perspective Taking, and Enhancing Positive Affect have received limited empirical attention. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, but some symptom dimensions emerge specifically in relational contexts, as in Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (ROCD). ROCD includes two dimensions: relationship-centered (RC-OC) and partner-focused (PF-OC) symptoms. The aim of this study was to test whether specific intrapersonal and interpersonal strategies predict symptom severity across OCD, RC-OC, and PF-OC, thereby clarifying their respective contributions to general and relationship-related symptom domains.
A sample of 749 Turkish-speaking adults (aged 18 to 65, M = 25.75, SD = 7.44), all with prior romantic relationship experience, completed validated measures of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and emotion regulation strategies. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted while controlling age and relationship status.
Suppression emerged as the most consistent predictor of higher symptom severity across all domains. Soothing was associated with greater symptoms in OCD and ROCD, while Social Modeling predicted only RC-OC. Perspective Taking showed weaker associations, predicting only OCD symptoms, and Reappraisal negatively predicted OCD symptoms. Younger participants and those currently in relationships reported higher levels of ROCD symptoms.
These findings indicate that obsessive-compulsive symptoms are linked to specific patterns of both intrapersonal and interpersonal strategy use. In clinical practice, understanding the differential contributions of these strategies could lead to more tailored therapeutic approaches that integrate social support and interpersonal skill training alongside cognitive-behavioral techniques targeting intrapersonal regulation. Positioning OCD and ROCD within this broader framework not only advances an emerging direction in the field but also emphasizes the societal relevance of addressing relational well-being alongside symptom reduction.