Superstitiousness and perceived anxiety control as predictors of psychological distress

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Abstract

It has been suggested that superstitiousness may be a subclinical manifestation of obsessive–compulsive symptomatology. The present study examined whether the relationship between superstitiousness and obsessive–compulsive symptoms was exclusive or whether superstitiousness was a less specific construct. A sample of undergraduates (n=191) completed measures associated with superstitiousness, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, symptoms of anxiety disorders other than obsessive–compulsive disorder (panic symptoms, agoraphobic cognitions, worry, and social fears), general psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and stress), and perception of anxiety control. Results indicated a gender difference in superstitiousness exists, with females being significantly more superstitious than males. Little relationship was found between superstitiousness and the other constructs in males, whereas moderate relationships were found between superstitiousness and the other constructs in females. The suggestion that superstitiousness is nonspecific and related more to perception of control than any specific form of psychological distress is discussed.

Section snippets

Participants

Data were collected from 191 participants recruited from introductory psychology classes with a mean age of 20.19 (S.D.=3.87; range 17–45). The sample was composed of 79 males (41%) and 112 females (59%). The majority of the participants were Caucasian (n=155, 86%) with the remainder reporting African American (n=19, 10.2%), Native American (n=2, 1.2%), or Hispanic (n=2, 1.2%) ethnicity, and one person reporting ethnicity other than those listed (.6%).

Superstitiousness Questionnaire

The Superstitiousness Questionnaire (

Results

Prior to conducting the data analyses, the data were screened for appropriateness. Although the data were positively skewed, particularly on the PI subscales, that was not unexpected given that this was a nonclinical sample. Even though the data were skewed, to facilitate interpretation and comparison with other sample data, no data transformations were conducted. When screening for outliers, a number of cases exceeded the z score of greater than ±3.29 (P<.001) guideline for detecting outliers (

Discussion

Results of this study replicate and extend the findings reported by Frost et al. (1993) and provide additional evidence for a relationship between measures of superstitiousness and obsessive–compulsive symptoms in nonclinical individuals. However, this relationship is not exclusive; superstitiousness also has a significant association with (a) measures corresponding to other anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia and social phobia, (b) measures of general psychological distress, and (c)

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Andrew Bayne, Andrew Brannon, Erica Schneider, Dana Smith, Katherine Taylor, Allen Tosh, and Marina Valdez for their assistance in data collection and entry.

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