Distress after a Single Violent Crime: How Shame-Proneness and Event-Related Shame Work Together as Risk Factors for Post-Victimization Symptoms

Abstract

To increase understanding of post-victimization symptom development, the present study investigated the role of shame- and guilt-proneness and event-related shame and guilt as potential risk factors. 35 individuals (M age = 31.7 yr.; 48.5% women), recently victimized by a single event of severe violent crime, were assessed regarding shame- and guilt-proneness, event-related shame and guilt, and post-victimization symptoms. The mediating role of event-related shame was investigated with structural equation modeling (SEM), using bootstrapping. The guilt measures were unrelated to each other and to post-victimization symptoms. The shame measures were highly intercorrelated and were both positively correlated to more severe post-victimization symptom levels. Event-related shame as mediator between shame-proneness and post-victimization symptoms was demonstrated by prevalent significant indirect effects. Both shame measures are potent risk factors for distress after victimization, whereby part of the effect of shame-proneness on post-victimization symptoms is explained by event-related shame.

The role of guilt in the development of post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review

“…Similarly, positive relationships between guilt-related distress and PTSD symptom scores could be expected given they both reflect distress. With regards to statistical power, five studies reported a sample size less than 50 (Crisford et al, 2008;Harned et al, 2012;Henning and Frueh, 1997;Semb et al, 2011). However, the majority continued to report significant findings suggesting effects were generally strong.…”

“…This may have contributed to the lack of significant relationships reported between guilt and PTSD symptomology when using the TOSCA (e.g. Leskela et al, 2002;Semb et al, 2011;Street and Arias, 2001). Second, shame may be expected to correlate more positively with distress when maladaptive aspects of the construct are assessed (Luyten et al, 2002 Articles identified as potentially relevant (n = 79) findings may also suggest other measures have not adequately distinguished between guilt and shame, as can be seen with the wording of some tools (Crisford et al, 2008, Tangney et al, 1995.…”

“…A few studies did not find a significant relationship between guilt and PTSD symptoms (Ginzburg et al, 2009;Leskela et al, 2002;Robinaugh and McNally, 2010;Semb et al, 2011;Street and Arias, 2001). Three of these studies (Leskela et al, 2002;Semb et al, 2011;Street and Arias, 2001) used a measure of trait guilt, the TOSCA, which reflects a person's disposition to respond with guilt to common day-to-day scenarios.…”

“…Semb et al, 2011;Street and Arias, 2001). Some studies used measures of PTSD symptomology that included guilt-related items Table 1 included more than one measure of guilt.…”

“…Henning and Frueh, 1997;Lowinger and Solomon, 2004;Rüsch et al, 2007;Semb et al, 2011). Three studies Kubany et al, 1997;Semb et al, 2011) assessed guilt derived from four or less items that may not have fully captured the construct of guilt, limiting content validity.…”