Investigating unique and shared aspects of measures of emotion regulation (ER) advances our understanding of ER as a multidimensional construct. This study aimed to investigate psychometric properties of three ER-measures: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-36), the abbreviated version DERS-16, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ).
In a community sample (N = 843; 56% females) we investigated their internal consistency, factor structure, convergence, and association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and substance abuse.
The proposed factor structures of the DERS-16 and the ERQ demonstrated an adequate fit. There were moderate correlations between the two DERS versions (36 and 16) and ERQ subscales Reappraisal and Suppression. Total scores of DERS-36 and DERS-16 demonstrated preferential associations with depression and anxiety. Corresponding associations between ERQ subscales and psychiatric symptoms were weak.
The results indicate that DERS-16 could be useful as an alternative, easily administered measure of ER difficulties.

© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Psychology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

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