Measurement of emotion dysregulation in adolescents.

Abstract

The construct of emotion dysregulation increasingly has been used to explain diverse psychopathologies across the lifespan. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; K. L. Gratz & L. Roemer, 2004) represents the most comprehensive measure of the construct to date and exhibits good reliability and validity in adults; however, the measure has yet to be tested in adolescents. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the DERS in a community sample of 428 adolescents (ages 13-17 years). Exploratory factor analysis supported a 6-factor structure consistent with the 6 DERS subscales. Internal consistencies for the subscales were good to excellent (alphas ranged from .76 to .89). In support of the measure's construct validity, the DERS exhibited robust correlations with psychological problems reflecting emotion dysregulation, specifically depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, alcohol use, and drug use. Intercorrelations among the DERS subscales ranged from negligible to high (range: r = .04 to r = .68), and potential problems with discriminant validity were noted. In general, results support the reliability and validity of the DERS as a measure of emotion dysregulation in adolescents.

Future Directions in Emotion Dysregulation and Youth Psychopathology

“…Among the most commonly used are the Children's Emotion Management Scales (Zeman, Shipman, & Penza-Clyve, 2001) and the Emotion Expression Scale for Children (Penza-Clyve & Zeman, 2002). In adolescent samples, the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004), which was developed originally for use with adults, is well validated and increasingly popular (Weinberg & Klonsky, 2009). The Emotion=Affect Regulation Interview (Zeman & Garber, 1996), which includes questions about emotional reactions to several vignettes, is also used frequently.…”

Ideación suicida y su relación con la inteligencia emocional en universitarios colombianos

“…Elevados puntajes en atención emocional se han relacionado con susceptibilidad emocional y riesgo de suicidio entre estudiantes universitarios 7,[29][30][31] . Igualmente, la dificultad para expresar emociones ha sido asociada con elevados síntomas depresivos e ideación suicida en los jóvenes 10,29,32 .…”

“…Elevados puntajes en atención emocional se han relacionado con susceptibilidad emocional y riesgo de suicidio entre estudiantes universitarios 7,[29][30][31] . Igualmente, la dificultad para expresar emociones ha sido asociada con elevados síntomas depresivos e ideación suicida en los jóvenes 10,29,32 . En contraste, niveles elevados de claridad emocional y reparación emocional se relacionan con un buen ajuste emocional y mayor satisfacción ante la vida [29][30][31]33,34 .…”

“…Igualmente, la dificultad para expresar emociones ha sido asociada con elevados síntomas depresivos e ideación suicida en los jóvenes 10,29,32 . En contraste, niveles elevados de claridad emocional y reparación emocional se relacionan con un buen ajuste emocional y mayor satisfacción ante la vida [29][30][31]33,34 . Específicamente, la claridad emocional garantiza un buen desempeño académico a los jóvenes a los jóvenes en su transición durante la vida universitaria 13,15,[35][36][37] .…”

Mobile Phone Intervention to Reduce Youth Suicide in Rural Communities: Field Test (Preprint)

“…Maladaptive emotion self-regulation processes have been linked to key risk factors for suicide: depression [48][49][50], anxiety [51,52], antisocial behavior [53,54], and drug use [55]. Difficulties in various aspects of emotion regulation, including lack of emotional awareness [56], restrictive emotionality [50], and strategies for responding to and recovering from emotional upset [13,[56][57][58], have been linked directly with suicide risk and attempts. The p. 8 association between suicide attempts and difficulties in emotion regulation is moderated by having trusted adults [13].…”