LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To provide information on lifetime prevalence of feelings of guilt in the German adult population based on data from a nation-wide telephone survey (n = 1.003; 18+ years; May-June 2019). METHODS We calculated weighted lifetime prevalence rates with confidence intervals (95 %-CI) and used multivariable logistic regression analyses to evaluate the association of guilt feelings with covariates. RESULTS We identified a weighted lifetime prevalence of experienced feelings of guilt of 68.5 % (95 %-CI = 65.6-71.3). Younger age, higher education and current depressive symptoms were associated with higher prevalence rates. No association was found with regard to gender and major depression. CONCLUSION A substantial part of the adult population experienced some sort of guilt feelings in their lives. Further research efforts are required to answer the question whether feelings of guilt are only a criterion of depression or whether they may contribute to an increased risk of the disorder.