Development and Initial Validation of the Shame Frequency Questionnaire in Medical Students

Area of Science:

• Psychometric validation of psychological instruments.
• Medical education research.
• Mental health in healthcare professionals.

Background:

• Shame is a significant factor impacting medical students' well-being.
• Existing instruments may not adequately capture the nuances of shame in this population.
• Developing a reliable and valid measure is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and collect initial validity evidence for the Shame Frequency Questionnaire in Medical Students.
• To establish a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing shame.
• To support research on shame's impact on medical trainees.

Main Methods:

• A 7-step survey design incorporating literature review and qualitative interviews.
• Content, response process, internal structure, and criterion validity evidence were collected.
• Pilot testing and exploratory factor analysis were conducted on samples from Uniformed Services University and Duke University School of Medicine.

Main Results:

• The final 12-item Shame Frequency Questionnaire demonstrated strong internal consistency (reliability = 0.95).
• Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a single-factor structure (shame) in both samples.
• Shame scores positively correlated with anxiety, burnout, and depression, and negatively with emotional thriving and recovery.

Conclusions:

• The Shame Frequency Questionnaire in Medical Students is a psychometrically sound instrument.
• It possesses strong internal reliability and multisource validity evidence.
• The questionnaire is suitable for studying shame in medical students.