Investigating Relationships Between Guilt, Shame, Self-discrepancy and Fear of Negative Evaluation in Mothers: A Replication and Extension

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Title
Investigating Relationships Between Guilt, Shame, Self-discrepancy and Fear of Negative Evaluation in Mothers: A Replication and Extension
Creator
Madison Kenny, Oliver C Robinson
Date
2026
Abstract
Research shows that maternal guilt and shame are commonly felt by mothers. A mother’s fear of being negatively evaluated has been shown to relate to such feelings. Self-discrepancy theory suggests that women may experience a discrepancy between their actual sense of self and how they perceive they should be as mothers, which also relates to feelings of shame and guilt. The current study is a replication of the study by Liss et al. (2013). We also extended it with a UK and Ireland sample and employ a maternal guilt measure in addition to general guilt and shame scales. Women who are biological mothers to at least one child under ten years (N = 94) completed an online survey measuring maternal self-discrepancies, fear of negative evaluation, maternal guilt, general guilt and shame. Age ranged from 25 to over 50 (M = 37.8 years). Maternal self-discrepancies and fear of negative evaluation predicted maternal guilt and shame. Mothers who internalised the idea of maternal perfection are more likely to experience maternal guilt and shame. In contrast to previous studies, fear of negative evaluation did not moderate the relationship between maternal self-discrepancies and maternal guilt and shame. Maternal self-discrepancies were greater for younger mothers than older mothers.
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Subject
Psychology
Rights
Open Access
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Academic Works

This item was submitted on September 18, 2026 by [anonymous user] using the form “Submission” on the site “Regent's University London Repository”: https://repository.regents.ac.uk/s/main

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