Higher Levels Of Guilt Research Articles

Depressive self-focus bias following failure: an eye-tracking study among individuals with clinical depression.

Depression is often characterized by a persistent sense of failure. Cognitive theories of depression suggest that depressed individuals may exhibit a maladaptive cognitive style, characterized by increased self-focus following personal failure. The validity of this proposition, however, is yet to be fully examined. This study aimed to identify the relation between symptoms in major depressive disorder and increased self-focus in failure situations. This clinical study involved a cohort of 30 patients diagnosed with and treated for depression. We used an eye-tracking paradigm to observe and analyze gaze direction - indicative of either self-focus or self-avoidance - after remembering a significant failure event. Contrary to the maladaptive cognitive style hypothesis, a majority of the depressed participants demonstrated an inclination towards self-avoidance following failure. Nevertheless, approximately 30% of the patient group - those with the highest scores of guilt, punishment, and self-blame - displayed a self-focused attentional bias post-failure. The presence of a maladaptive self-focusing style may be confined to severely depressed patients with high levels of guilt, punishment, and self-blame. These findings could have substantial clinical implications, as attention bias modification interventions could be particularly beneficial for this subgroup of patients.

Guilt, alexithymia, and posttraumatic symptoms in the aftermath of intimate partner violence: A mediation analysis.

The objective of this article is to explore the relationships between two significant predictors, as indicated by existing literature, of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms: guilt and alexithymia. The investigation centers on a clinical sample of women who have encountered intimate partner violence (IPV). A total of 740 women who had experienced IPV (Mage = 42.84, SD = 11.092) were recruited to participate in this study. Mediation analysis was employed to examine the mediating role of guilt and alexithymic difficulties in the relationship between IPV and PTSD symptoms. The findings of this study provide empirical support for the mediating effects of guilt and alexithymia in the link between IPV and PTSD symptoms. Specifically, higher levels of guilt and alexithymia were found to be associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing symptoms of PTSD among women with an IPV experience. The results of this study have important implications for the development of interventions tailored to the specific needs of women who have experienced IPV. In particular, interventions that target and address guilt and alexithymia hold promise for effectively mitigating symptoms of PTSD in this population. By addressing these underlying factors, interventions can help women navigate their trauma, facilitate emotional processing, and support their journey toward recovery and well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Role of Guilt Sensitivity and Support.

Background/Objectives: Burden Syndrome, also known as Caregiver Syndrome, particularly affects those who serve in the role of informal caregiver in the presence of family members with conditions. The ABCX dual model examines the impact on the caregiver of the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on the family. This model considers the severity of the stressor (A), the additional demands of life stress (aA), the family's internal resources (B), the family's external resources (bB), the family's assessment of the situation (C), coping strategies (cC), and outcome (X). The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationships between resilience, guilt, and burden of care in caregivers of children with ASD. Methods: Various assessment instruments were used, including the "Caregiver Burden Inventory" to measure burden, the "Brief Resilience Scale" to assess resilience, the "Guilt Sensitivity Questionnaire" to examine guilt sensitivity, and the "DA.L.I.A." to collect information on parent and child characteristics. A total of 80 parents/caregivers participated in the research, including 53 women (Age M = 41.72; SD = 7.8) and 27 men (Age M = 43.35; SD = 6.29). Results: The findings indicate that individuals' resilience to stressful events correlates negatively with burden, a developmental subtype. However, guilt seems not to play a significant role in the overall perception of burden. In contrast, it was found that the use of informal supports is associated with higher levels of guilt and emotional burden, whereas the use of formal supports is correlated with higher emotional burden, but not higher perceptions of guilt. Conclusions: This study provides important information about the support needed by caregivers and suggests how to address emotional burdens to prevent burnout and support families with children with ASD.

Mourning in the time of coronavirus: Examining how grief differs in those who lost loved ones to COVID-19 vs. natural causes in Iran.

Our study aimed to analyze and compare the grief experiences of individuals in Iran who lost family members to COVID-19 and those who lost loved ones to other natural causes. In this study, telephone interviews were conducted with 640 first-degree relatives, and finally, a total of 395 people remained in the research. Participants answered the Prolonged Grief Questionnaire (PG-13-R) and Grief Experience Questionnaire. The results showed that the most common symptoms and features of grief were feeling guilt, searching for an explanation, somatic reactions, and rejection, with no significant difference observed between the 2 death groups. However, the average scores for these symptoms were higher in the COVID-19 death group. Moreover, the majority of bereaved reported signs and symptoms of prolonged grief, with a higher percentage in the COVID-19 death group, although there was no significant difference between the 2 death groups in terms of the distribution of symptoms and signs of prolonged grief. These findings suggest that the bereavement process can be challenging, and losing a loved one to COVID-19 may lead to more intense experiences of grief. The study reveals high levels of guilt, searching for meaning, somatic reactions, and rejection among COVID-19 grievers. Losing loved ones to the pandemic appears linked to more intense, prolonged grief symptoms.

Problematic pornography use and suicidal thoughts: Results from cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

There is a growing consensus that problematic pornography use (PPU), one of the most commonly reported compulsive sexual behaviors, is related to a number of internalizing psychiatric symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression). However, little is known about the potential comorbidity of PPU and suicidal thoughts. Given known links between PPU and higher levels of guilt, shame, and moral disapproval, it may be that PPU may be related to suicidal thoughts. Using two independent samples, we cross-sectionally (Sample 1: undergraduates, n = 422) and longitudinally (Sample 2: nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, n = 1,455) tested for associations between PPU and past-month suicidal ideation and perceived likelihood of suicidal behaviors, while controlling for frequency of pornography use, moral disapproval, moral incongruence, and religiousness. Cross-sectionally, PPU was related to higher levels of self-perceived likelihood of suicidal behaviors, but not past-month suicidal thoughts. Longitudinally, PPU was related to higher initial levels (i.e., intercept) of past-month suicidal thoughts and self-perceived likelihood of suicidal behaviors, but not changes in either (i.e., slope). The frequency of pornography use was statistically unrelated to each outcome for both samples, while moral beliefs about pornography use showed mixed relationships. Clinicians working with patients reporting PPU may consider ways it may contribute to suicidal thinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Motives matter: The psychological experience of ostracizing among sources.

Individuals ostracize others for myriad reasons, yet the influence of those reasons on the psychological experience of ostracizing is yet unknown. Two studies aimed to determine the emotional and behavioral sequelae of ostracizing for different motives, directly comparing punitive to defensive motives. We focused our examination on a suite of emotions expected to arise as a function of (1) the situations that give rise to ostracizing for punitive and defensive reasons (anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness) and (2) the act of ostracizing itself (i.e., pride and guilt). The research employed a novel paradigm to induce the experience of ostracizing for defensive or punitive motives. Study 1 (N = 372) investigated sources' experienced emotion as a function of motive. Study 2 (N = 743) expanded consideration to behavioral intentions, including intentions to continue ostracizing and to recruit others to join in ostracizing the target. Across both studies and supported by an internal meta-analysis, ostracizing for defensive reasons was associated with higher levels of guilt, fear, and anxiety, and lower levels of anger, compared to ostracizing for punitive reasons. Neither sadness nor positive emotion (pride or happiness) differed significantly according to motive in either study. Moreover, guilt and anger mediated the impact of motive on intentions to continue ostracizing and recruit others to join them in ostracizing. To the extent that punitive sources experienced anger relative to defensive sources, they expressed greater intentions to continue ostracizing the target and to recruit others to join in ostracizing the target. To the extent that defensive sources experienced guilt relative to punitive sources, they reported reduced intentions to continue ostracizing the target. Findings add to a growing literature on ostracism sources, and highlight the mediating role of sources' emotion in guiding future actions.

Is it my fault? The role of the feeling of guilt in adolescent peer victimization.

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between feelings of guilt, peer victimization in school, and loneliness based on adolescents' gender. A total of 671 Spanish students (50.7% boys), aged 10-16 years old (M = 13.04, SD = 1.80) from six public primary and secondary schools participated in the study. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (3 × 2) was calculated. Adolescents with high levels of guilt presented greater physical, verbal, and relational victimization, as well as higher levels of loneliness. In addition, boys high in guilt had the highest scores in overt physical victimization, while girls high in guilt had the highest levels of loneliness. Results obtained suggest that adolescents with greater feelings of guilt feel responsible for being victims of peer aggression and for feeling lonely. These findings suggest the need to address the feeling of guilt, taking into account the gender perception.

Examining the Relationship Between Maternal Employment Guilt and Internalized Sexism in Mothers with Preschool Children

Motherhood is an important part of gender inequality discussions and the basis of the unequal division of labor based on gender is mostly based on motherhood roles. It is stated that employed women have a high level of work-family conflict, perceive themselves to be far from being the "ideal" mother, and have higher levels of guilt. The internalization of sexist standards is thought to be effective in triggering and increasing feelings of guilt. In this context, this research sought to examine the sense of guilt felt by working mothers of pre-school children and the relationship of this feeling with internalized sexism and sociodemographic variables. 209 working mothers of pre-school children either in a part-time or full-time job participated in the study. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were employed in the study. The results showed that the mother’s guilt was positively related to the sub-dimensions of internalized sexism. Specifically, internalized powerlessness/loss of self and self-objectification from sub-dimensions of internalized sexism significantly predicted the mother’s guilt. Additionally, weekly working hours and the number of children also predicted the mother’s guilt. These results are important in terms of revealing the risks caused by the internalization of sexist norms that put serious pressure on mothers. Efforts towards gender equality are of great importance in increasing the quality of life for mothers in the family life and workplace.

Prolonged Grief Symptoms among Suicide-Loss Survivors: The Contribution of Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Characteristics.

Background: Suicide-loss survivors (SLSs) are a population with unique characteristics that place them at increased risk for developing grief complications and painful feelings of guilt that may impact their supportive social environment. However, no studies to date have examined the role of intrapersonal and interpersonal variables that may contribute to prolonged grief symptoms (PGS) as outlined by the new DSM-5 criteria. The present study aimed to extend knowledge regarding the role of interpersonal variables, such as perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and self-disclosure, in determining the impact of guilt on the development of PGS among SLSs. Method: This study is part of a longitudinal study, though, in this study, we used a cross-sectional examination of the recently completed fourth measurement. Study participants included 152 SLSs aged 22 to 76 who completed questionnaires measuring guilt, depression, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, self-disclosure, and PGS using the Prolonged Grief–Revised Inventory. Participants’ demographics and loss-related characteristics, such as time since suicide and participant’s age at the time of suicide, were examined. Results: Confirming the hypotheses, intrapersonal variables (i.e., guilt and depression), as well as interpersonal variables (i.e., perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and self-disclosure), contributed significantly to PGS beyond sociodemographic and loss-related factors. Perceived burdensomeness significantly moderated the contribution of guilt to PGS: for participants with high burdensomeness levels, guilt contributed to PGS more strongly than for participants with low burdensomeness. Conclusion: Guilt is an important contributor to PGS among SLSs, and perceived burdensomeness plays a critical role in moderating this contribution. In light of these findings, it can be suggested that SLSs with high levels of guilt should receive special attention and may benefit from therapeutic interventions focusing on reducing maladaptive cognitions that elicit intense guilt or perceived burden.

Guilt Focused Intervention for Family Caregivers. Preliminary Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT Objectives A pilot randomized controlled trial study was conducted for testing the efficacy of a novel Guilt Focused Intervention (GFI), that was compared with a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (CBI) for caregivers of people with dementia with high levels of guilt and distress. Methods Participants were 42 caregivers who were randomized assigned to the intervention conditions. Results Participants in the GFI showed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and guilt at posttreatment and follow-up. Participants in the CBI presented reductions in anxiety and guilt at posttreatment and follow-up. Clinically significant change for guilt was found in 62.5% in the GFI and 9.09% in the CBI group at posttreatment. At follow-up, 58.33% in GFI and 12.5% in the CBI group were recovered. Conclusions The preliminary results of this pilot study suggest that caregivers with significant levels of guilt and distress might benefit from an intervention specifically designed to target guilt feelings. Clinical Implications A novel and initial intervention approach specifically designed for targeting caregivers’ feelings of guilt might have the potential to reduce caregiver’s emotional distress.

Explaining Interaction of Guilt and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Not Just Right Experiences.

Objective“Not Just Right Experiences” (NJREs) are currently considered a characteristic of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Significant associations have been found between NJREs and Obsessive–Compulsive (OC) symptoms in nonclinical and clinical populations. Literature support a significant relationship between NJREs, feelings of guilt and OC features. This study aims to clarify the role of the potential interplay between guilt and OC symptomatology in NJREs and verify if high levels of guilt will predict NJREs and OC symptoms and trait guilt levels will positively interact in their prediction of NJREs.MethodOne hundred and eighty-nine adults recruited from normal population were assessed with questionnaires of NJREs and OC symptoms and proneness to experience guilt.ResultsAll the variables involved in the study (NJREs severity, guilt and OCI-R scores) were positively and significantly correlated and showed that guilt and OCI-R scores significantly and positively interact in the prediction of NJREs levels. Guilt predicted NJREs only when levels of OCI-R were high.ConclusionsThese results support the association between guilt sensitivity or OC symptoms and NJREs in clinical and nonclinical participants and that a disposition toward high levels of guilt and OC symptoms have a particular sensitivity to NJREs corroborating centrality of guilt in OC symptoms.

Emotion and intergroup cooperation: How verbal expressions of guilt, shame, and pride influence behavior in a social dilemma

AbstractIn interpersonal relations, it is known that expressing self‐conscious emotions such as guilt and shame following a transgression is beneficial to reconciliation. In the current research, we examine whether this also applies to intergroup relations. Groups of three persons played an intergroup version of the “centipede game,” in which one party can cooperate with or exploit another party. In Study 1, two groups played six rounds of this game in each of two phases. Between phases, groups rated how much guilt, shame, and pride they experienced in relation to how they had performed in Phase 1; these ratings were shared with the opposing group. Groups expressing high levels of guilt and shame were associated with greater cooperation in Phase 2, whereas groups expressing high levels of pride were associated with lower cooperation in Phase 2. In Study 2, all groups played against a “group” programmed to behave in an exploitative way in Phase 1. This group then expressed shame, pride, or no emotion (control) about its performance. Cooperation in Phase 2 was significantly higher in the shame than in the pride condition, and altruistic punishment was highest in the pride condition and lowest in the shame condition. Between them, these studies show that emotional expression plays an important role in repairing intergroup relationships and in particular that expressing shame about a transgression enhances intergroup cooperation following a transgression.

Who wants to wash away their sins? Guilt and shame proneness and behavioral moral cleansing endorsement: a pilot study

In our pilot cross-sectional study, we aimed to explore the associations between guilt and shame proneness and moral cleansing endorsement. Our sample consisted of 484 adults (73.3% females), aged 18 and 53 (M=24.09, SD=7.32). We used a novel approach to explore moral cleansing mechanisms, i.e., a two-item scale assessing behavioral cleansing endorsement (one's agreement with the idea that people must "wash away" their immoral acts by acting in ethical ways that would "clean" their moral debt). In addition to the significant associations that we found between moral cleansing endorsement and the guilt and shame proneness dimensions (i.e., negative behavior evaluation, repair action tendencies, negative self-evaluation, and withdrawal action tendencies), results also suggested that moral cleansing endorsement was significantly predicted by overall guilt and shame proneness. More specifically, we found that higher levels of guilt and shame proneness might account for higher moral cleansing endorsement levels. We also found important associations with participants' age: our findings suggested that the higher the age, the higher the endorsement for moral actions aimed to "clean" immoral deeds. Results are discussed in relation to cultural-related factors.

Limitations in Physical Activities and Loneliness: The Role of Guilt for Perceiving Oneself as a Burden

Loneliness is a prevalent problem associated with negative health consequences for older adults, such as greater cognitive decline. Limitations to perform physical activities have been associated with greater loneliness in older adults. This association could be moderated by maladaptive social cognition or feelings, such as guilt associated with perceiving oneself as a burden. The objective of this study was to analyze the moderating effect of guilt associated with perceiving oneself as a burden in the relationship between limitations in physical activities and loneliness. Participants were 195 community-dwelling people 60 years or older not showing explicit cognitive or functional limitations that prevent activities of daily life, but who may present limitations in some physical activities (e.g., walking a kilometer or more). A linear regression analysis was conducted for testing the interaction between limitations in physical activities and guilt for perceiving oneself as a burden in loneliness, controlling for gender and age. The interaction between limitations in physical activities and guilt for perceiving oneself as a burden was the only significant predictor of loneliness and the model explained 18.30% of the variance. Limitations in physical activities influenced loneliness when people have high levels of guilt for perceiving oneself as a burden. This study suggests that guilt for perceiving oneself as a burden may play an important role in the association between limitations in some physical activities and loneliness.

Measuring alcohol’s cost, the Russian-language AUDIT, home-drinking, guilt, shame and forgiveness, and alcohol use among sexual minority women

Measuring alcohol’s cost, the Russian-language AUDIT, home-drinking, guilt, shame and forgiveness, and alcohol use among sexual minority women

Health-related guilt in chronic primary pain: A systematic review of evidence.

Chronic primary pain conditions are characterized by significant functional disability, emotional distress, and diagnostic uncertainty. Health-related guilt associated with coping and living with chronic pain is poorly understood. There had been no attempts to synthesize findings on health-related guilt across studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a systemic review of evidence, to enable an understanding of the role of health-related guilt in chronic primary pain, and to provide directions for future research. A search strategy was developed based on our eligibility criteria. Four databases (PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched for relevant papers from inception to 8 July 2020. Data from 12 qualitative and six quantitative studies were synthesized narratively. The review of qualitative studies resulted in three themes, relating to the management of pain, diagnostic uncertainty/legitimizing pain, and how participants' actions or inactions affect others. These findings were integrated with evidence from quantitative studies, which showed that higher levels of guilt were associated with more pain and pain interference, functional impairment, and poorer psychological and social functioning. The findings demonstrate that health-related guilt is an important psychological factor associated with more pain and poorer function in people with chronic primary pain conditions. Future research should examine health-related guilt as a potential mediating/moderating factor leading to more distress and suffering in this population and as a potential target for interventions.

Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Responses among Military Chaplains: Implications for Military Behavioral Health

Introduction: Military chaplains play a vital role in helping the military accomplish their missions. These chaplains can be exposed to traumatic experiences during their deployments with some of them developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method: Using in-depth interviews with 17 former and active-duty chaplains who have been diagnosed with PTSD, this study employs classical grounded theory to formulate a conceptual model explaining key factors that contribute to their trauma resiliency. Results: The conceptual model derived from grounded theory analysis of the interviews theorizes that chaplains with PTSD who have a greater number of overall and religious/spiritual protective factors and fewer overall and religious/spiritual risk factors are more resilient to military-related trauma experiences. Alternatively, chaplains who have more overall and religious/spiritual risk factors and fewer of these protective factors demonstrate decreased resiliency. Key risk factors included high levels of guilt, perceived weakness and stigma associated with symptoms, heavy work demands during deployments, competitive work environments, isolation, and unhelpful leadership responses. Discussion: Implications for military behavioral health to support military chaplains are highlighted. They include recommendations for increased and targeted psychoeducation efforts, expanded use of camaraderie-based approaches/fostering informal support, incorporation of chaplain’s faith/spirituality, increased use of narrative and cognitive interventions, and advocating for chaplains.

The Role of Standards and Discrepancy Perfectionism in Maladaptive Consumption

Perfectionism has been conceptualized as a multidimensional construct, and two of its key dimensions entail striving for high performance standards and focusing on the discrepancy between one’s standards and actual performance. Our investigation examines the role of these two dimensions in maladaptive consumption. Results across six studies investigating both trait and state perfectionism across various maladaptive domains support our account that discrepancy-based perfectionism is associated with higher levels of maladaptive consumption than standards-based perfectionism. Additionally, results indicate that feelings of shame and guilt explain these differential effects, with discrepancy perfectionism associated with higher levels of shame and standards perfectionism associated with higher levels of guilt.

Feeling Guilty and Flattering God: The Mediating Role of Prayer

Ingratiation refers to acts of flattery, typically given by a low-power person to a high-power one, performed to gain acceptance and approval. This study investigates ingratiation in the religious setting, asking whether people feeling high levels of guilt or shame tend to manifest such ingratiating behavior toward God. The study aimed to examine the mediating role of prayer in the relationship between guilt and shame and ingratiation toward God. A total of 148 respondents (80 women and 68 men) participated in the study. The Religious Ingratiation Scale, the Content of Prayer Scale, and the Guilt and Shame Proneness Scale were applied to the research. The results showed that feeling guilty increased the tendency to ingratiation toward God. Prayer was the significant mediator in this relationship. People high in guilt tend to flatter God by offering more adoration and fewer repine prayers.

Parents' genetic attributions for children's eating behaviors: Relationships with beliefs, emotions, and food choice behavior

Considering genetic influences on children's eating behavior could result in reduced self-efficacy for healthy child feeding and less healthy feeding behavior among parents. Indeed, one's eating behaviors are typically thought of as the volitional aspects of weight management that one can directly control. The current study assessed parental genetic attributions for their child's eating behavior, and relationships between these attributions and self-efficacy, guilt, and feeding behaviors. Participants included 190 parents of a child between 4 and 7 years old. Parents' genetic attributions for child eating behaviors were lower than genetic attributions related to child weight. Higher genetic attributions for child eating behaviors were related to lower self-efficacy for feeding the right amounts of food, higher-calorie food choices for the child in a virtual reality-based buffet simulation, and higher levels of guilt. The current findings suggest that heightened beliefs about role of genetics in children's eating behavior is associated with maladaptive affect and behavior among parents. This should be kept in mind when considering whether, when, and how to provide information to parents highlighting the role of genetics in children's eating behavior.