TY - JOUR
T1 - Development and Validation of a Brief Version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale
T2 - The DERS-16
AU - Bjureberg, Johan
AU - Ljótsson, Brjánn
AU - Tull, Matthew T.
AU - Hedman, Erik
AU - Sahlin, Hanna
AU - Lundh, Lars Gunnar
AU - Bjärehed, Jonas
AU - DiLillo, David
AU - Messman-Moore, Terri
AU - Gumpert, Clara Hellner
AU - Gratz, Kim L.
PY - 2016/6/1
Y1 - 2016/6/1
N2 - The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a widely-used, theoretically-driven, and psychometrically-sound self-report measure of emotion regulation difficulties. However, at 36-items, the DERS may be challenging to administer in some situations or settings (e.g., in the course of patient care or large-scale epidemiological studies). Consequently, there is a need for a briefer version of the DERS. The goal of the present studies was to develop and evaluate a 16-item version of the DERS – the DERS-16. The reliability and validity of the DERS-16 were examined in a clinical sample (N = 96) and two large community samples (Ns = 102 and 482). The validity of the DERS-16 was evaluated comparing the relative strength of the association of the two versions of the DERS with measures of emotion regulation and related constructs, psychopathology, and clinically-relevant behaviors theorized to stem from emotion regulation deficits. Results demonstrate that the DERS-16 has retained excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, and good convergent and discriminant validity. Further, the DERS-16 showed minimal differences in its convergent and discriminant validity with relevant measures when compared to the original DERS. In conclusion, the DERS-16 offers a valid and brief method for the assessment of overall emotion regulation difficulties.
AB - The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a widely-used, theoretically-driven, and psychometrically-sound self-report measure of emotion regulation difficulties. However, at 36-items, the DERS may be challenging to administer in some situations or settings (e.g., in the course of patient care or large-scale epidemiological studies). Consequently, there is a need for a briefer version of the DERS. The goal of the present studies was to develop and evaluate a 16-item version of the DERS – the DERS-16. The reliability and validity of the DERS-16 were examined in a clinical sample (N = 96) and two large community samples (Ns = 102 and 482). The validity of the DERS-16 was evaluated comparing the relative strength of the association of the two versions of the DERS with measures of emotion regulation and related constructs, psychopathology, and clinically-relevant behaviors theorized to stem from emotion regulation deficits. Results demonstrate that the DERS-16 has retained excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, and good convergent and discriminant validity. Further, the DERS-16 showed minimal differences in its convergent and discriminant validity with relevant measures when compared to the original DERS. In conclusion, the DERS-16 offers a valid and brief method for the assessment of overall emotion regulation difficulties.
KW - Assessment
KW - Emotion regulation
KW - Experiential avoidance
KW - Self-report measure
KW - Short version
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U2 - 10.1007/s10862-015-9514-x
DO - 10.1007/s10862-015-9514-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 27239096
AN - SCOPUS:84941670916
VL - 38
SP - 284
EP - 296
JO - Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
JF - Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
SN - 0882-2689
IS - 2
ER -