Validity evidences for the Emotion Regulation Test

Abstract

This study sought evidence of validity based on the internal structure (factorial validity) and its relationship with external variables (psychopathological indicators and personal data) for the Emotional Regulation Test (ERT). This instrument is composed by conflict-related scenarios (vignettes) involving eight basic emotions, and questions about the effectiveness of different ways to deal with the emotional conflict of each scenario. The sample consisted of 289 adults, who answered the ERT via internet. A smaller portion of the sample (N = 191) also responded to the Clinical Dimensional Inventory of Personality - Screening. The study resulted in a two-factor structure related to effective (factor 1) and non-effective (factor 2) strategies to regulate emotions, with good reliability indexes. No significant correlations with psychopathological indicators were found. We recommended the use of the instrument for research purposes.