Factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean population

Abstract Background This study examined the latent factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)—DERS-SF, DERS-18, and DERS-16—across large-scale samples of the Korean population. Methods Participants from two independent...

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Main Authors: Gyumyoung Kim, Minkyung Yim, Hayoung Bae, Ji-Won Hur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Psychology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02261-z
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author Gyumyoung Kim
Minkyung Yim
Hayoung Bae
Ji-Won Hur
author_facet Gyumyoung Kim
Minkyung Yim
Hayoung Bae
Ji-Won Hur
author_sort Gyumyoung Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study examined the latent factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)—DERS-SF, DERS-18, and DERS-16—across large-scale samples of the Korean population. Methods Participants from two independent community samples (N = 862 and N = 1,242) completed an online self-report survey, including brief versions of the DERS and associated measures. Confirmatory factor analyses were employed to examine the latent factor structures of the brief versions of the DERS with comparable models. The internal consistency, concurrent validity, and convergent validity of the brief versions of the DERS were also assessed. Results The findings revealed that the bifactor models of the DERS-SF and DERS-18, excluding the Awareness subscale, showed superior fit indices for latent factor structure and favorable reliability. By contrast, the DERS-16 exhibited inadequate fit. Scores from the DERS-SF and DERS-18 demonstrated significant associations with indicators of psychological distress, supporting their convergent validity. The Awareness subscale showed lower internal consistency and distinctive correlation patterns with clinical outcomes. Conclusions These findings highlight the robustness of the DERS-SF and DERS-18 as parsimonious and efficient measures of emotion dysregulation with fewer items than the original version. Furthermore, this study provides additional support for excluding the Awareness subscale when using the brief versions of the DERS.
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spelling doaj-art-e8ea5574fca34de6be3077e140c2be3c2025-08-20T02:40:18ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832024-12-0112111310.1186/s40359-024-02261-zFactor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean populationGyumyoung Kim0Minkyung Yim1Hayoung Bae2Ji-Won Hur3School of Psychology, Korea UniversitySchool of Psychology, Korea UniversitySchool of Psychology, Korea UniversitySchool of Psychology, Korea UniversityAbstract Background This study examined the latent factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)—DERS-SF, DERS-18, and DERS-16—across large-scale samples of the Korean population. Methods Participants from two independent community samples (N = 862 and N = 1,242) completed an online self-report survey, including brief versions of the DERS and associated measures. Confirmatory factor analyses were employed to examine the latent factor structures of the brief versions of the DERS with comparable models. The internal consistency, concurrent validity, and convergent validity of the brief versions of the DERS were also assessed. Results The findings revealed that the bifactor models of the DERS-SF and DERS-18, excluding the Awareness subscale, showed superior fit indices for latent factor structure and favorable reliability. By contrast, the DERS-16 exhibited inadequate fit. Scores from the DERS-SF and DERS-18 demonstrated significant associations with indicators of psychological distress, supporting their convergent validity. The Awareness subscale showed lower internal consistency and distinctive correlation patterns with clinical outcomes. Conclusions These findings highlight the robustness of the DERS-SF and DERS-18 as parsimonious and efficient measures of emotion dysregulation with fewer items than the original version. Furthermore, this study provides additional support for excluding the Awareness subscale when using the brief versions of the DERS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02261-zDERSEmotion dysregulationBifactor modelBrief formValidation
spellingShingle Gyumyoung Kim
Minkyung Yim
Hayoung Bae
Ji-Won Hur
Factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean population
BMC Psychology
DERS
Emotion dysregulation
Bifactor model
Brief form
Validation
title Factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean population
title_full Factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean population
title_fullStr Factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean population
title_full_unstemmed Factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean population
title_short Factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the Korean population
title_sort factor structures and psychometric properties of three brief versions of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale in the korean population
topic DERS
Emotion dysregulation
Bifactor model
Brief form
Validation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02261-z
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AT hayoungbae factorstructuresandpsychometricpropertiesofthreebriefversionsofthedifficultiesinemotionregulationscaleinthekoreanpopulation
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