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Assessment

(PS4-11) Examining Different Measures of Emotion Regulation to Create a Consolidated Measure

Friday, November 15, 2024
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown
Abstract Text: This study examined different measures of constructs pertaining to emotion regulation to create a consolidated measure. Due to an overlap among these constructs, a concise measure will allow for clear conclusions to be drawn regarding emotion regulation. Included among the measures: Acceptance & Action Questionnaire (AAQ-2), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulations Scale (DERS), and the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (MEAQ). The 7-item AAQ-2 measures psychological inflexibility. The 15-item DTS measures an individual's ability to tolerate psychological distress. The 36-item DERS measures six components of emotion regulation, including emotional non-acceptance, emotional clarity, emotional awareness, goal-directed behavior, impulse control, and emotion regulation strategies. The 62-item MEAQ measures six components of emotional avoidance including behavioral avoidance, distress aversion, procrastination, distraction and suppression, repression and denial, and distress endurance. As demonstrated by the breakdown of each measure and their associated constructs and components, many of them present as interrelated and overlapping. This study sought to determine which components of emotion regulation are being measured by these scales and which they have in common, to create a single consolidated measure. Data were collected using an exploratory factor analysis on 358 participants aged 18-26 (51% White, 21% Hispanic/Latinx, 14% Black/African American, 6% Asian, and 4% preferred not to answer; 81% female, 18% male, and 1% gender non-conforming). Principal axis factoring was used with oblimin rotation for a total of 120 items, reduced to 31 items. Six factors were identified based on scree plot and eigenvalues higher than or equal to 0.6, accounting for 46% of the variance. Model fit indicated X2 = 1633, 90% CI (0.0399, 0.0480), p < .001. Items were limited primarily to the DERS and MEAQ, with only two from the DTS. Six collective factors were identified and labeled as: helplessness, proximal avoidance, self-deprecating secondary emotion, distal avoidance, emotional sensitivity, and willingness. Items loading on the helplessness factor indicate feeling helpless or ineffectual in response to emotion. There were two factors indicative of avoidance: items based on proximal avoidance (avoidance in direct response to emotional discomfort or in the anticipation of emotional discomfort) and distal avoidance (a situation-modification form of avoidance to prevent or delay contact with uncomfortable emotions). Items loading on the self-deprecating secondary emotion factor indicate a secondary negative response to one’s own emotions. Items loading on the emotional sensitivity factor indicate an elevated awareness and attentiveness to one’s emotions. Finally, one item loaded on the willingness factor, indicating a willingness to come in contact with negative emotional experiences for the sake of one’s values. The 31 items identified by the analysis to create a consolidated scale imply a nuanced relationship between emotion regulation and experiential avoidance which seems, in combination, to be a measure of psychological inflexibility.