In stigmatized illnesses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), shame and other negative self-conscious emotions are associated with suboptimal engagement in healthcare via stress and avoidance coping. However, shame is challenging to assess via self-reporting. Research has shown that people express emotions in different ways, including self-reported emotion, what they say (using shame-related words), and facial and body movements.  While people may be self-conscious about expressing or revealing shame, combining ways to measure shame could be helpful in improving accurate assessment. 

In a new study of individuals recently diagnosed with HIV, researchers found that a combination of measuring shame—self-report, language, and body posture—are necessary to predict stress and avoidance behaviors in healthcare settings. Relying on one method they found is insufficient—while using multiple, complementary measures better predicted stress and specific types of coping.