Perceived Criticism and Intimacy Avoidance in Couples: The Mediating Role of Shame
Keywords:
Perceived criticism, internalized shame, intimacy avoidance, romantic relationships, structural equation modelingAbstract
This study aimed to examine the mediating role of internalized shame in the relationship between perceived criticism and intimacy avoidance in romantic couples. The study utilized a descriptive correlational design involving 400 adult participants from India, selected based on the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size table. Standardized instruments were used to measure perceived criticism (Perceived Criticism Measure), shame (Experience of Shame Scale), and intimacy avoidance (ECR-R Avoidance Subscale). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation in SPSS-27 and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in AMOS-24 to evaluate the proposed mediational model. Assumptions of normality, linearity, multicollinearity, and homoscedasticity were confirmed prior to analysis. Model fit was assessed using key indices including χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, RMSEA, and TLI. Pearson correlation analysis showed that perceived criticism was significantly correlated with shame (r = .47, p < .001) and intimacy avoidance (r = .42, p < .001). Shame also showed a strong correlation with intimacy avoidance (r = .53, p < .001). SEM analysis indicated that the model had good fit (χ²/df = 1.74, GFI = 0.94, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.043). Perceived criticism significantly predicted shame (β = .47, p < .001) and intimacy avoidance directly (β = .21, p = .004). Shame also significantly predicted intimacy avoidance (β = .48, p < .001) and partially mediated the relationship between perceived criticism and intimacy avoidance (indirect β = .23, p < .001). The findings suggest that shame is a key emotional mechanism through which perceived criticism affects intimacy avoidance. Interventions targeting shame regulation may be beneficial for improving relational closeness in couples.
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