(PS4-10) Examination of the Relationship Between Self-report and Behavioral Measures of Emotion Regulation in Middle Schoolers

While emotion regulation (ER) is a critical resilience factor in early adolescence, there is a lot of debate over which measures can best capture this complex transdiagnostic process. As a scientist, there is pressure to select a cost-effective and efficient ER measure, especially when evaluating the impact of a clinical intervention. Some gold standard measures of ER are widely accepted in the field. Still, there are questions of which measures work best in adolescence and how self-report or behavioral measures work together or in conflict with one another. 

This project examines ER measurement across three clinical intervention trials that focus on ER as a transdiagnostic mechanism. These include Project STRONG, a dating violence prevention program for middle school boys (N = 120), TRAC, a group-based ER promotion program to reduce sexual risk behaviors (N = 420), and iTRAC, a digital ER promotion program (N = 85). As each trial evaluated a program designed to improve ER and reduce risk behaviors, each study had a large battery of ER measures.

The current study evaluates the use of self-report and behavioral measures of ER. The psychometric properties of each measure will be included to determine which measures worked as intended for middle school youth and their caregivers. Subsequently, regression analyses will be conducted to examine which self-report ER measures, if any, are predictive of behavioral measures.

These trials utilized 13 self-report measures of ER. Measures targeted a number of ER facets, including beliefs about emotion, affect regulation, usage of ER skills, regulating positive emotion, emotional self-efficacy, self-regulation strategies, and lability. There were 3 behavioral measures used, which targeted facial and voice recognition of emotion, impulse control, and emotional dysregulation. One behavioral measure and two self-report measures were included across studies. The behavioral measure most commonly administered across studies was the Behavioral Indicator of Resilience to Distress (BIRD). The self-report measures used in all studies were the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Emotional Self-Efficacy (ESE). 

Preliminary linear regressions were conducted for each trial with gender and race as covariates. For the BIRD, self-report measures did not predict behavioral ER in Project STRONG (p = .29), TRAC (p = .12), and iTRAC (p = .70). Self-report measures in Project TRAC significantly predicted DANVA faces (p < .01)  and voices (p < .01). Project iTRAC measures were not significantly related to DANVA voices (p = .27) or faces, p = .79).  Results of regression analyses and details on self-report measures will be presented in the final poster. 

It is necessary to understand what ER processes look like in youth; however, as a field, there is not a clear consensus on what measurement will be most efficacious and efficient in facilitating accurate reporting while reducing participant burden. This study demonstrates how ER measures intersect, overlap, and can be used to inform a strong study design. Understanding these relationships can aid in more accurate evaluation of ER programs when aligned with clear and concise ER measures.