biostudies-literatureUnknown57(5)Trak EObsessive-compulsive tendencies may render individuals vulnerable to elevated distress and over-adherence to safety behaviours during illness outbreaks. The present study investigated obsessive beliefs as a predictor of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, COVID-19 distress and the exercise of safety behaviours related to COVID-19 in a community sample. Four hundred seventy-nine participants responded to a questionnaire battery in March 2020 and 218 individuals participated in a follow-up assessment in September 2020. Results indicated that baseline obsessive beliefs predicted the exercise of baseline safety behaviours through obsessive-compulsive symptoms and COVID-19 distress. In addition, the relationship between baseline obsessive beliefs and safety behaviour adoption 6 months later was mediInternational journal of psychology : Journal international de psychologie559-566https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9087675biostudies-literatureObsessive beliefs prospectively predict adherence to safety behaviours related to COVID-19 through obsessive-compulsive symptoms and COVID-19 distress: A serial multiple mediator analysis.PMC9087675Inozu MTrak EfalseObsessive beliefs prospectively predict adherence to safety behaviours related to COVID-19 through obsessive-compulsive symptoms and COVID-19 distress: A serial multiple mediator analysis.Obsessive-compulsive tendencies may render individuals vulnerable to elevated distress and over-adherence to safety behaviours during illness outbreaks. The present study investigated obsessive beliefs as a predictor of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, COVID-19 distress and the exercise of safety behaviours related to COVID-19 in a community sample. Four hundred seventy-nine participants responded to a questionnaire battery in March 2020 and 218 individuals participated in a follow-up assessment in September 2020. Results indicated that baseline obsessive beliefs predicted the exercise of baseline safety behaviours through obsessive-compulsive symptoms and COVID-19 distress. In addition, the relationship between baseline obsessive beliefs and safety behaviour adoption 6 months later was medi2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2025-04-26T18:42:49.894Z2025-02-18T23:19:37.289ZS-EPMC90876753536588010.1002/ijop.12844