Boston University: Measuring shame through a combination of self-report, language and body posture may be clinically helpful in HIV

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine news release

In stigmatized illnesses such as HIV, shame and other negative self-conscious emotions are associated with suboptimal engagement in healthcare via stress and avoidance coping. However, shame is challenging to assess via self-reporting. Research has shown that people express emotions in different ways, including self-reported emotion, what they say (using shame-related words), and facial and body movements. While people may be self-conscious about expressing or revealing shame, combining ways to measure shame could be helpful in improving accurate assessment.

In a new study of individuals recently diagnosed with HIV, researchers found that a combination of measuring shame — self-report, language, and body posture — are necessary to predict stress and avoidance behaviors in healthcare settings. Relying on one method they found is insufficient — while using multiple, complementary measures better predicted stress and specific types of coping.

Read the full news release here.