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The Development and Psychometric Properties of the HIV and Abuse Related Shame Inventory (HARSI)

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Abstract

Shame has been shown to predict sexual HIV transmission risk behavior, medication non-adherence, symptomatic HIV or AIDS, and symptoms of depression and PTSD. However, there remains a dearth of tools to measure the specific constructs of HIV-related and sexual abuse-related shame. To ameliorate this gap, we present a 31-item measure that assesses HIV and sexual abuse-related shame, and the impact of shame on HIV-related health behaviors. A diverse sample of 271 HIV-positive men and women who were sexually abused as children completed the HIV and Abuse Related Shame Inventory (HARSI) among other measures. An exploratory factor analysis supported the retention of three-factors, explaining 56.7% of the sample variance. These internally consistent factors showed good test–retest reliability, and sound convergent and divergent validity using eight well-established HIV specific and general psychosocial criterion measures. Unlike stigma or discrimination, shame is potentially alterable through individually-focused interventions, making the measurement of shame clinically meaningful.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants R01-MH62965, K23-MH076671, and P30-MH62294 (Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS; CIRA) from the National Institute of Mental Health. The authors gratefully acknowledge our community collaboration with Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City.

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No competing financial interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Sharon A. S. Neufeld

  2. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Kathleen J. Sikkema

  3. Clinician in Private Practice, New York, NY, USA

    Rachel S. Lee

  4. Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Arlene Kochman

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, The Consultation Center, 389 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA

    Nathan B. Hansen

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  1. Sharon A. S. Neufeld
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  2. Kathleen J. Sikkema
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  3. Rachel S. Lee
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  4. Arlene Kochman
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  5. Nathan B. Hansen
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Correspondence to Nathan B. Hansen.

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Neufeld, S.A.S., Sikkema, K.J., Lee, R.S. et al. The Development and Psychometric Properties of the HIV and Abuse Related Shame Inventory (HARSI). AIDS Behav 16, 1063–1074 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0086-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0086-9

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