Dimensionality and measurement invariance of the Other as Shamer Scale across diverse adolescent samples

Abstract

The current work investigates the psychometric properties of the complete and short versions of the Other as Shamer Scale, using three Portuguese adolescent samples presenting diverse severity degrees of behavioral problems. This instrument measures external shame, an important precursor and correlate of psychosocial functioning, but has only been tested with community samples. Results showed the acceptability of a three-factor solution for the complete version of the measure (i.e., inferior, emptiness, and how others react when they see me make mistakes). The short unifactorial measure was also acceptably fitted the data. Both measurement models were partially invariant across gender, with boys and girls presenting similar levels of shame. They were also partially invariant across boys presenting diverse degrees of behavioral problems, with community participants presenting the lowest levels of shame. Evidence was gathered in favor of the internal consistency and validity in relation to depressive, anxious and stress symptoms, self-criticism and self-reassurance, and experiential avoidance, for both versions of the instrument. This study adds to evidence of the Other as Shamer Scale being an appropriate evaluation tool, with diverse samples of adolescents, and providing the user with diverse assessment options to be chosen in accordance with varied research of therapeutic purposes.