The interpersonal shame inventory for Asian Americans: scale development and psychometric properties

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Cultural Psychology

Background:

• Interpersonal shame is a significant factor in mental health.
• Existing measures may not adequately capture the nuances of shame for Asian Americans.
• Culturally specific measures are needed for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Interpersonal Shame Inventory (ISI).
• To assess interpersonal shame among Asian Americans.
• To examine the psychometric properties of the ISI.

Main Methods:

• Four studies involving Asian American college students.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.
• Validity and reliability testing, including criterion-related, concurrent, discriminant, and incremental validity.

Main Results:

• The ISI demonstrated a two-factor structure: external shame (ISI-E) and family shame (ISI-F).
• Both subscales showed strong validity and reliability, including high alpha coefficients and test-retest stability.
• Family shame mediated the relationship between thwarted belongingness and suicide ideation.

Conclusions:

• The ISI is a psychometrically sound and culturally relevant measure for assessing interpersonal shame in Asian Americans.
• The findings highlight the distinct roles of external and family shame.
• The ISI can inform clinical interventions for Asian American populations.