A grounded theory study on Korean doctoral students’ shame experiences in the U.S.: Exploring the role of cultural self-construals

Abstract

In this grounded theory study, we explored the influence of cultural self-construals on shame experiences among Korean doctoral students in the U.S. By conducting and analyzing in-depth interviews, we developed a theoretical framework to clarify the factors that triggered participants’ shame, with a particular emphasis on students’ dual self-construals (independent and interdependent self-construals), and the outcomes of shame experiences. The findings highlighted the influence of students’ dual self-construals on different types of self-discrepancies that caused subsequent shame experiences. Additionally, academic cultural differences and amplifying factors, such as students’ shame-proneness, perfectionism, and social comparisons, deepened our understanding of students’ shame experiences. Although instances of experienced shame contributed to students’ cumulative burden of shame, when students used adaptive emotion regulation strategies, they were able to recover and enhance their resilience. This study offers a valuable perspective on the interplay between cultural self-construals and shame experiences, particularly among Korean doctoral students in the U.S., a population that has received limited empirical attention.