A Rasch Model Analysis of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire

The 10-item Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) was developed to measure individual differences in the tendency to use two common emotion regulation strategies: cognitive reappraisal and suppression. The current study examined the psychometric properties of the ERQ in a heterogeneous mixed sample of 713 (64.9% female) community residents using the polytomous Rasch model. The results showed that the 10-item ERQ was multidimensional and supported the two distinct factors. The reappraisal and suppression subscales were both found to be unidimensional and fit the Rasch model. No evidence of local dependence was observed. The five response categories also functioned as intended. Differential item functioning (DIF) was assessed across sub-samples defined by gender, self-report experiencing symptoms of mental illness, regular meditation practice, and age groupings. No evidence emerged of items functioning differently across any of these groups. Using Rasch measure scores, a number of meaningful group differences in person location emerged. Less use of reappraisal was reported by younger adults, non-meditators, and those reporting experiencing symptoms of mental illness. Non-meditators also reported greater use of suppression compared with regular meditators; no other age group, gender, or symptomatic group differences emerged on suppression.