The Emotion Regulation Goals Scale: Advancing its psychometric properties using item response theory analysis

J Clin Psychol. 2022 Sep;78(9):1940-1957. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23343. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Abstract

Objective: Emotion goals are considered paramount for influencing the initiation, maintenance, and cessation of emotion regulation. Recently, some authors developed an instrument to assess emotion goals-the Emotion Regulation Goals Scale (ERGS).

Method: This study included two studies aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the ERGS in two Portuguese samples: 400 adults from the community (76% women; M age = 37.10) (Study 1) and 205 university students (80% women; M age = 21.72) (Study 2).

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT) analysis were used to examine the psychometric properties of the ERGS in the two samples. The CFA confirmed the five-factor structure of the 18-item ERGS, but the analyses of both studies suggested the elimination of two items given their lower loadings/low discrimination.

Conclusions: A five-factor structure with 16 items was proposed, with good reliability and with evidence of construct validity with relevant constructs.

Keywords: confirmatory factor analysis; emotion regulation goals; item response theory; psychometrics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Emotional Regulation*
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Goals
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult