Exploring Interpersonal Guilt: Association with Emotion Dysregulation, Mentalization, Frustration Intolerance, and Body Appreciation

This study explored the relationship between different types of interpersonal guilt as conceived according to control-mastery theory and emotion dysregulation, mentalization, frustration intolerance, and body appreciation. We recruited 200 participants to whom we administered the Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scale-20, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–Short Form, the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire-8, the Frustration Discomfort Scale, the Body Appreciation Scale-2, and a sociodemographic schedule. The data revealed that self-hate and burdening guilt were positively associated with emotion dysregulation and negatively associated with body appreciation. Frustration intolerance correlated with burdening guilt, while mentalization impairments were linked to self-hate. Both constructs also positively correlated with separation/disloyalty guilt. The findings of this study underline the association between several guilt-related pathogenic beliefs and relevant psychopathological factors such as emotional dysregulation, mentalization difficulties, frustration intolerance, and body dissatisfaction. Among the pathogenic beliefs investigated, a particular role is played by the belief that one is bad, inadequate, and undeserving; the belief that one’s own emotions, needs, and way of being is a burden to other people; and the beliefs that separating physically or psychologically from important others may hurt them. The clinical implications of these finds are discussed.