The relation between fearfulness, disgust sensitivity and religious obsessions in a non-clinical sample

The present study sought to determine the relation among fearfulness, disgust sensitivity, and religious obsessions in a non-clinical sample. One hundred participants completed two measures of fear (Fear Survey Schedule, Padua Inventory) a measure of disgust sensitivity (Disgust Scale) and a measure of religious obsessions (Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity). Overall, the data were consistent with an additive relation among fearfulness, disgust sensitivity and religious obsessions. Inconsistent with recent notions in the research literature, the relation between disgust sensitivity and religious obsessions remained significant even after controlling for general fearfulness and cleanliness fears. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that interpersonal and contamination fears as well as disgust sensitivity specifically towards sex and death best predicted religious obsessions. It is suggested that an additive model consisting of symptoms of both fear and disgust should be considered in future research and treatment of religious obsessions.