Examination of Two Emotion Regulation Strategies in a Lebanese Community Sample: Validation of the Arabic Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)

Abstract

This study aims at examining two emotion regulation strategies as assessed by the Arabic translation of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and their relation to life satisfaction in a Lebanese community sample. The Arabic ERQ and the Arabic version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale were completed by 221 Lebanese adults. The factor structure of the ERQ and its correlations with sociodemographic variables and subjective well-being were evaluated. Two moderately reliable factors representing emotional suppression and cognitive reappraisal were extracted. Suppression scores were not associated with sociodemographic variables, whereas reappraisal scores were correlated with sex. As expected, reappraisal and suppression scores were not associated with life satisfaction scores. The Arabic ERQ is considered a valid measure of emotional suppression and cognitive reappraisal in the case of Lebanon. The availability of the Arabic translation of the ERQ allows further research on emotion regulation in Lebanon and the Arab Middle East.