There is increasing attention for the role of disgust in psychopathology, especially contamination/washing obsessive-compulsive symptoms by Western researchers in recent decades. There has not been much attention paid to this disorder in Iran. This study aimed at determining the role of disgust propensity and disgust sensitivity in predicting contamination/washing obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Materials and Methods: In this analytical descriptive study, 295 students were selected from Shahed

more »

... iversity by the cluster sampling method. The participants completed the demographic questionnaire, Padua Inventory (PI, contamination subscale) and Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-Revised (DPSS-R). Results: The results of Pearson correlation showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between the disgust propensity and the disgust sensitivity with contamination/washing obsessive-compulsive symptoms and this relationship was stronger in women (0.41-0.42) than in men (0.23-0.24). The results of regression analysis showed that disgust propensity (β=0.34, P<0.001) and disgust sensitivity (β=0.17, P<0.001) could predict the contamination/washing obsessive-compulsive symptoms (R=0.45, R2=0.20). Disgust propensity had a stronger predictive role (R2=0.16, P<0.001). However, age could not predict contamination/washing obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Conclusion: The present study provides support for the role of disgust in the prediction of contamination/washing obsessive-compulsive symptoms and it can be used for early diagnosis and timely treatment of this disorder.