Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Guilt Inventory

Objective: The feeling of guilt is essential to a healthy interpersonal functioning but can also play a role in self-destructive behaviours. Although there is about 20 guilt scales in English, none has yet been validated in French. This study intends to fill this gap by proposing a French version of the Guilt Inventory (GI) that evaluates trait guilt, state guilt, and moral standards. Method: Seven hundred and thirty-eight students filled the GI in French as well as scales measuring trait anxiety and state anxiety, and empathy skills. In a sample subgroup, we also evaluated depression, social desirability, and personality factors. Results: An exploratory factor analysis conducted on half of the participants resulted in keeping 18 of 20 items in trait GI, and 9 of 10 items in state GI, but also in disregarding the moral standard scale. A confirmatory factor analysis performed on the sample other half has validated this two-factor structure. The expected correlations between guilt scores, negative affectivity and interpersonal functioning were observed. Conclusion: This study suggests that the GI French version is an adequate measure of trait guilt and state guilt, and could prove to be a useful tool for both research and clinical purposes.