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When I don't Like Myself: Portuguese Version of the Internalized Shame Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Marcela Matos ,
José Pinto-Gouveia  and
Cristiana Duarte
Marcela Matos*
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
José Pinto-Gouveia
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
Cristiana Duarte
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Marcela Matos. CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra. Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153. 3001-802 Coimbra (Portugal). Phone: +351-917981854. Fax: +351-239851462. E-mail: marcela.s.matos@gmail.com
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Abstract

In the past two decades, there has been a growing theoretical and empirical interest on the role of shame, namely internal shame, on the conceptualization of human functioning and several interpersonal and emotional problems. The current study explores the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Internalized Shame Scale (ISS), a self-report measure which assesses trait shame, composed by an Internal Shame subscale, measuring internalized shame, and a Self-Esteem subscale. The factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and convergent and discriminant validity for both subscales, are presented, in a sample of 385 college students. The Principal Components Analyses reveal that both Internal Shame and Self-Esteem subscales present a one-dimensional structure which explains, respectively, 48.54% and 57.7% of the variance. The subscales present high internal consistency, with high Cronbach'alphas (.95 and .85) and moderate to high item-total correlations. The two subscales present an excellent temporal stability. Convergent and discriminant validity of the subscales was corroborated through the moderate correlations with a measure of shame and of social comparison, and through the low and moderate correlations with the subscales depression, anxiety, and stress. The Portuguese version of the ISS is a valid and reliable instrument to measure internalized shame.

Ha habido un creciente interés teórico y empírico sobre el papel de la vergüenza interna en la conceptualización del funcionamiento humano y de varios problemas interpersonales y emocionales. Este estudio explora las propiedades psicométricas de la versión portuguesa de la Internalized Shame Scale (ISS), un instrumento de auto-respuesta compuesto por una subescala de vergüenza interna, que mide la vergüenza internalizada, y de una subescala de autoestima. La estructura factorial, consistencia interna, fiabilidad test-retest y validez convergente y divergente para ambas subescalas se presentan en una muestra de 385 estudiantes universitarios. El análisis de componentes principales revela que las subescalas de vergüenza interna y autoestima presentan una estructura unidimensional que explica, respectivamente, 48.54 y 57.7% de la varianza. Las subescalas revelan alta consistencia interna (.95 y .85) y correlaciones item-total de nivel moderado a alto. Las dos subescalas presentan una excelente estabilidad temporal. La validez convergente y divergente de las subescalas fue corroborada a través de correlaciones moderadas con una medida de vergüenza y de comparación social y de correlaciones bajas y moderadas con subescalas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés. La versión en portugués de la ISS es un instrumento válido y confiable para la evaluación de la vergüenza interiorizada.

Keywords

internal shameISSpsychometric propertiespsychopathologyvergüenza internaISSpropiedades psicométricaspsicopatología
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , November 2012 , pp. 1411 - 1423
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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