Do negative emotions mediate the association between negative appraisals and dysfunctional reactions to involuntary musical imagery? Testing an OCD-analogue cognitive model of distressing earworms.

PURPOSE: Distressing involuntary musical imagery (INMI) or "earworms" are often experienced but rarely studied. Due to their similarity with obsessions, research can draw on models of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The present study followed a cognitive model and tested the hypothesis of a positive relationship between negative appraisals and dysfunctional reactions, mediated by negative emotions.

METHODS

Individuals with OCD (n = 79) and students without OCD (n = 298) completed the Characteristics of Earworms Questionnaire (CEAR). The central hypothesis was tested using a mediation analysis.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed a significant direct effect of negative appraisals on dysfunctional reactions to INMI, but no mediation by negative emotions.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the applicability of the cognitive OCD model to INMI, particularly the relationship between negative appraisals and dysfunctional reactions. However, the results question whether negative emotions mediate this relationship. If replicated, results may provide a foundation for developing targeted interventions for distressing INMI.