Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation

Abstract The tripartite model of emotion regulation (Three Circle Model), comprising threat, drive, and soothing systems, underpins Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). These systems are implicated in experiences of emotion, motivation, and physiological activation and this model is used within CFT fra...

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Main Authors: Dylan Moloney-Gibb, Chase S. Sherwell, Sasha Lynn, Jamin Day, James N. Kirby
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94706-7
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author Dylan Moloney-Gibb
Chase S. Sherwell
Sasha Lynn
Jamin Day
James N. Kirby
author_facet Dylan Moloney-Gibb
Chase S. Sherwell
Sasha Lynn
Jamin Day
James N. Kirby
author_sort Dylan Moloney-Gibb
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The tripartite model of emotion regulation (Three Circle Model), comprising threat, drive, and soothing systems, underpins Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). These systems are implicated in experiences of emotion, motivation, and physiological activation and this model is used within CFT frameworks to assess emotion regulation functioning and assist with case formulation. Despite its importance to CFT, each system is typically gauged using proxy self-report measures of emotion, lacking direct measurement of system interactivity. In this study, we developed and psychometrically tested a novel digital measure of the tripartite model with 311 young adults (aged 18–24, M = 19.6; 223 female, 85 male, 3 non-binary). Here we report that evaluation indicated the measure had good construct validity with other validated self-report measures of emotion, emotion regulation, and mental health. Test-retest reliability of the scale was then established in a second sample with 90 participants (aged 18–24, M = 23.2; 43 female, 46 male, 1 non-binary). These findings support the use of this measure as a brief, dynamic scale that captures central CFT theory and can be easily used with clients or in research contexts.
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spelling doaj-art-4d723cd07c094639b13818cb6cab1adf2025-08-20T01:49:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-94706-7Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulationDylan Moloney-Gibb0Chase S. Sherwell1Sasha Lynn2Jamin Day3James N. Kirby4Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of QueenslandCompassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of QueenslandCompassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of QueenslandCompassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of QueenslandCompassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of QueenslandAbstract The tripartite model of emotion regulation (Three Circle Model), comprising threat, drive, and soothing systems, underpins Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). These systems are implicated in experiences of emotion, motivation, and physiological activation and this model is used within CFT frameworks to assess emotion regulation functioning and assist with case formulation. Despite its importance to CFT, each system is typically gauged using proxy self-report measures of emotion, lacking direct measurement of system interactivity. In this study, we developed and psychometrically tested a novel digital measure of the tripartite model with 311 young adults (aged 18–24, M = 19.6; 223 female, 85 male, 3 non-binary). Here we report that evaluation indicated the measure had good construct validity with other validated self-report measures of emotion, emotion regulation, and mental health. Test-retest reliability of the scale was then established in a second sample with 90 participants (aged 18–24, M = 23.2; 43 female, 46 male, 1 non-binary). These findings support the use of this measure as a brief, dynamic scale that captures central CFT theory and can be easily used with clients or in research contexts.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94706-7
spellingShingle Dylan Moloney-Gibb
Chase S. Sherwell
Sasha Lynn
Jamin Day
James N. Kirby
Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation
Scientific Reports
title Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation
title_full Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation
title_fullStr Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation
title_full_unstemmed Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation
title_short Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation
title_sort testing a digital and interactive scale the three circles to assess emotion regulation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94706-7
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