Examining the Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of a Guilt Management Scale (GMS). Issue 2 (19th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McIvor, Katy; Degnan, Amy; Pugh, Lauren; Bettney, Laura; Emsley, Richard; Berry, Katherine
• Is Part Of: Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy. Volume 47:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 199
• Publication Date: 2018-06-19
• Subjects: guilt, -- distress, -- coping, -- principal component analysis, -- psychometric; Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S1352465818000292
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4658

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Guilt is commonly associated with distress and psychopathology. However, there is a lack of validated measures that assess how people cope with this aversive emotional and cognitive experience.Aims: We therefore developed and validated a self-report measure that assesses how people manage their guilt: the Guilt Management Scale (GMS).Method : The GMS was administered to a non-clinical ( n = 339) and clinical ( n = 67) sample, alongside other validated measures of guilt severity, coping, thought control and psychological distress. Results from a principal component analysis (PCA) and assessments of test–retest reliability and internal consistency are presented.Results: The PCA yielded a six subscale solution (Self-Punishment, Reparation, People-Focused, Spirituality, Avoidance and Metacognition), accounting for 56.14% of variance. Test–retest reliability and internal consistency was found to be good–excellent for the majority of subscales. Across samples, Self-Punishment was related to higher levels of guilt and distress whilst Metacognition and Reparation were related to less guilt and distress in the non-clinical sample only.Conclusions : This paper provides preliminary evidence for the psychometric properties of the GMS in a non-clinical sample. With development and validation in clinical samples, the GMS could be used to inform psychological formulations of guilt and assess therapy outcomes.