This study investigated the relationships between shame- and guilt-proneness, event-related shame and guilt, andpost-victimization symptoms among 35 victims (17 females and 18 males; mean age 31.7 years) of a single severe violent crime. Shame- and guilt-proneness (Test of Self-Conscious Affect) and event-related shame and guilt (Visual Analog Scale) were related to post-victimization symptoms (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and SymptomChecklist-90). Correlations showed that shame-proneness and event-related shame were highly inter-correlated andthat, in addition, each uniquely contributed to higher symptom levels. The guilt measures were unrelated to eachother as well as to symptoms. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed significant indirect effects supporting the role of event-related shame as mediator between shame proneness and post-victimization symptoms. In conclusion, requiring attention in clinical settings, both shame proneness and event-related shame seem to bepotent risk factors for distress after victimization.
A review of the literature on the subject along with results from cross-sectional research will be presented to illustrate the relationships between self-conscious emotions and mental health in crime victims.