Adverse childhood experiences and shame- and guilt-proneness: Examining the mediating roles of interpersonal problems in a community sample.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked with an increased tendency to experience self-conscious emotions (i.e., shame- and guilt-proneness). Further, interpersonal problems have been associated with ACEs and are implicated in the maintenance of shameand guilt-proneness. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to better understand the interpersonal pathways through which ACEs are associated with shame- and guilt-proneness. METHOD: A community sample (N = 249) completed measures of ACEs, interpersonal problems, and shame- and guilt-proneness. RESULTS: Interpersonal problems mediated the association between ACEs and shame-proneness and ACEs and guilt-proneness. Multiple mediation models revealed that-when controlling for the other types of interpersonal problems-(a) interpersonal sensitivity was the only significant mediator between ACEs and shame-proneness and (b) interpersonal sensitivity and interpersonal aggression mediated the association between ACEs and guiltproneness. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of interpersonal pathways in the association between shame- and guilt-proneness. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.