Shame and Guilt-Proneness as Mediators of Associations Between General Causality Orientations and Depressive Symptoms
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The present study examined the roles of shame- and guilt-proneness as mediators of associations between general causality orientations and depressive symptoms. We expected autonomy would be associated with less depressive symptoms based on higher guilt-proneness and lower shame-proneness, whereas control would be associated with more depressive symptoms based on lower guilt-proneness and higher shame-proneness. Undergraduates (N = 354) completed assessments of general causality orientations, shame- and guilt-proneness, and depressive symptoms in exchange for extra credit. Results of mediation analyses were generally supportive of the framework indicating that shame- and guilt-proneness mediate associations between self-determination and depressive symptoms. Autonomy was indirectly associated with less depressive symptoms through positive associations with guilt-proneness, in spite of unexpected positive associations with shame-proneness. Control and impersonal orientation were indirectly associated with more depressive symptoms through positive associations with shame-proneness. Results extend previous research relating self-determination to mental health in providing preliminary support suggesting that individual differences in self-determination facilitate differential tendencies in experiencing guilt and shame.
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The described feelings could have a detrimental effect on mental health.
“The described feelings could have a detrimental effect on mental health [23–25].”
From Procrastination, depression and anxiety symptoms in university students: a three-wave longitudinal study on the mediating role of perceived stress (2024) · cites this paper as [25]
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“The described feelings could have a detrimental effect on mental health [23–25].”
Background
- Authors
- Young, C. M., Neighbors, C., DiBello, A. M., Traylor, Z. K., & Tomkins, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Houston (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 2016-05
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 357-370
- ISSN
- 0736-7236 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5362253
- OpenAlex
- W2346892114
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 2.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA023495)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Keywords
- shame proneness, guilt proneness, causality orientations, depressive symptoms, autonomy, control, self-determination, mediation, mental health, individual differences
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