Optimism and its relationship to obsessive-compulsive disorder among a sample of nurses- A field study in the state of Laghouat

Abstract

The current study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of optimism and the level of obsessive-compulsive disorder among a sample of nurses in the state of Laghouat. To achieve the study objectives, two scales were used: an optimism scale developed by the researchers, which was designed to suit the local environment, following methodological steps and benefiting from the theoretical heritage related to the optimism variable; and the second scale used in this study, the obsessive-compulsive disorder scale developed by the American psychologist Wayne Goodman and his colleagues. Both scales were administered to a pilot sample of fifty (50) individuals, and this pilot study resulted in the suitability of the two scales for the purposes of the study, with acceptable validity and reliability. In this study, the researchers used a descriptive correlational approach on a primary sample of seventy-five (75) nurses from three hospitals in the Laghouat province (Laghouat Hospital, Aflou Hospital, and Ksar El Hirane Hospital), selected randomly. After collecting and analyzing the data using SPSS version 21.5, the study yielded the following results: A statistically significant negative relationship was found between the level of optimism and the level of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among the nurses. That is, the higher the level of optimism among the nurses, the lower their level of OCD. This finding has been confirmed by numerous scientific studies and research highlighting the role of optimism and its contributions to promoting mental health, especially in the workplace