Developing the Shame and Guilt Scale in Secondary Traumas

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Trauma Studies
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Secondary trauma can evoke significant shame and guilt.
• Understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying these emotions is crucial for effective intervention.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the nuances of shame and guilt in secondary trauma contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the "Shame and Guilt Scale in Secondary Traumas" (SGST).
• To investigate the mediating role of negative emotions in the relationship between psychological resilience and shame/guilt in secondary trauma.
• To establish the psychometric properties of the newly developed SGST.

Main Methods:

• A multi-stage study involving 832 participants (18-50 years) from Türkiye.
• Development and validation of the SGST, assessing its reliability (Cronbach's Alpha) and construct validity.
• Statistical analyses using SPSS and AMOS to test the mediating role of negative emotions.

Main Results:

• The SGST demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's Alpha = .86 overall) and validity.
• The scale comprises two sub-dimensions: "escape" and "facilities".
• Negative emotions were found to fully mediate the relationship between psychological resilience and feelings of shame and guilt in secondary trauma.

Conclusions:

• The SGST is a valid and reliable tool for assessing shame and guilt in individuals experiencing secondary trauma.
• Negative emotions play a significant mediating role in the interplay between resilience and shame/guilt after trauma exposure.
• Findings contribute to a deeper understanding of emotional processing in secondary trauma and inform potential therapeutic targets.