title: Obsessing about intimate-relationships: testing the double relationship-vulnerability hypothesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obsessive preoccupation and doubts centering on one's intimate relationship may have a negative impact on the romantic dyad and lead to significant distress. In this research we investigated whether the co-occurrence of attachment anxiety and overreliance on intimate relationships for self-worth-what we call double relationship-vulnerability-is linked with relationship-centered obsessions and obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study 1 employed a correlational design to examine the link between double relationship-vulnerability and relationship-centered obsessions. Study 2 employed an experimental design to assess response to subtle threats to the relationship self-domain among individuals with double relationship-vulnerability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study 1 supported the link between double relationship-vulnerability and relationship-centered obsessions. Study 2 showed that when confronted with subtle threats to the relationship self-domain, individuals with double relationship-vulnerability are more likely to experience distress and engage in mitigating behavior in response to relationship doubts and fears.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our studies were conducted with non-clinical samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that double relationship-vulnerability may make individuals more susceptible to the development and maintenance of relationship-centered obsessions and compulsions.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, P.O. Box 167, Herzliya, 46150, Israel. gdoron@idc.ac.il
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doron
authors.forename: Ohad
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Szepsenwol
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karp
authors.forename: Netali
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003193:Compulsive Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014936:Word Association Tests; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognition; Cognitive theory; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Relationship-centered obsessions; Relationships