Psychometric Properties of an Arabic Translation of the Shortest Version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-9) in Adults

Abstract

Background: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a chronic and debilitating mental health condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. The Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-9 is a concise tool designed to assess the dysfunctional beliefs central to OCD. This study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the OBQ-9 for use in Arabic-speaking populations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 392 Lebanese adults. Participants completed the Arabic OBQ-9, the Eating Attitudes Test-7, and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-12 through online self-administered questionnaires. The OBQ-9 was translated using a forward-backward method and validated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency reliability, gender invariance testing, and concurrent validity assessment. Results: The CFA supported a three-factor structure of the Arabic OBQ-9, with fit indices improving significantly after minor modifications (χ2/df = 4.23, RMSEA =0.091, SRMR =0.060, CFI =0.941, TLI =0.908). The OBQ-9 demonstrated good internal consistency, with adequate Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega values for the total score and subscales as follows: total score (ω =0.84; α =0.84), Factor 1 (ω =0.74; α =0.73), Factor 2 (ω =0.71; α =0.70) and Factor 3 (ω =0.81; α =0.81). Gender invariance was confirmed, with no significant differences between male and female scores (p =0.446). Concurrent validity was supported by significant correlations between OBQ-9 scores and both EAT-7 (r =0.21, p <0.001) and OCI-12 (r =0.41, p <0.001) scores. Conclusion: The Arabic OBQ-9 is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing obsessive beliefs in Arabic-speaking populations. It can enhance the accuracy of OCD diagnosis and treatment in clinical and research settings. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and broader demographic samples to further validate the OBQ-9 and explore its applicability in other cultural contexts.