Psychometric Properties of the Short Form of Emotion Behavior Regulation Scale in Students

Abstract

The Emotional Behavior Regulation Questionnaire is a self-report scale of behavioral strategies that individuals use to regulate their emotions in response to stressful events. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the short form of emotion behavioral regulation scale in students. The research method was descriptive and the statistical population (N = 13000) of the present study consisted of all the male students of the second year of secondary school (first to third grades) of public schools in Ardabil city in the academic year 2018-2019. A total of 239 of these individuals were selected from the above statistical population by multi-stage random sampling and individually responded to the Emotion Behavior Regulation Scale (short form) Kraaij& Garnefski (2019) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Lovibond&Lovibond (1995) Scale. For data analysis, internal consistency coefficient, simultaneous validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and 8.8 LISREL software. The results of internal consistency coefficient showed that this scale has good reliability. The results of exploratory factor analysis revealed 5 factors with specific values greater than one. The fit indices of the confirmatory factor analysis model also confirmed the 5-factor (Seeking Distraction, Withdrawal, Actively Approaching, Seeking Social Support and Ignoring) model of this questionnaire. The results of the correlation coefficient showed that the negative relationship between the emotional regulation components (Seeking Distraction, Actively Approaching, Seeking Social Support) and the positive relationship between the emotional regulation components (Withdrawal and ignoring) with depression, anxiety and stress are significant (P<0/001). Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total score of negative emotion behavioral regulation is 0.76 and for the total score of positive emotion behavioral regulation is 0.80 and for the components is in the range of 0.60 to 0.68. The results of this study showed that the Persian version of the Emotional Behavior Regulation Scale has good reliability and validity in the Iranian population and is a suitable self-assessment scale for clinical and research situations.

Keywords

• emotional behavior regulation
• psychometrics
• factor analysis