Citation

Wojcik KD, Cox DW, Kealy D. Child Abuse Negl. 2019; 98: e104233.

Affiliation

University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, V6T 2A1, BC Canada. Electronic address: david.kealy@ubc.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104233

PMID

31669776

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked with an increased tendency to experience self-conscious emotions (i.e., shame- and guilt-proneness). Further, interpersonal problems have been associated with ACEs and are implicated in the maintenance of shameand guilt-proneness.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to better understand the interpersonal pathways through which ACEs are associated with shame- and guilt-proneness.

METHOD: A community sample (N = 249) completed measures of ACEs, interpersonal problems, and shame- and guilt-proneness.

RESULTS: Interpersonal problems mediated the association between ACEs and shame-proneness and ACEs and guilt-proneness. Multiple mediation models revealed that-when controlling for the other types of interpersonal problems-(a) interpersonal sensitivity was the only significant mediator between ACEs and shame-proneness and (b) interpersonal sensitivity and interpersonal aggression mediated the association between ACEs and guiltproneness.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of interpersonal pathways in the association between shame- and guilt-proneness. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

ACEs; Adverse childhood experiences; Guilt; Interpersonal problems; Self-conscious emotions; Shame