Reliability and validity of a temporal distancing emotion regulation task in adolescence

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Emotion Regulation

Background:

• Temporal distancing is an emotion regulation strategy that involves adopting a distant perspective on stressors.
• Previous research utilized an experimental temporal distancing task to measure this ability in young adults.
• The current study investigates the psychometric properties and developmental aspects of this task.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the temporal distancing task in younger and older adolescents.
• To explore developmental differences in using temporal distancing to alleviate distress.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the temporal distancing task.

Main Methods:

• Participants (N=444) aged 10-21 listened to scenarios and rated negative affect under different temporal perspectives (distant-future, near-future, natural reaction).
• Test-retest reliability was assessed in older adolescents.
• Construct validity was examined by correlating task scores with self-report emotion regulation measures.

Main Results:

• Both distant- and near-future perspectives significantly reduced distress compared to natural reactions, with distant-future being most effective.
• Older adolescents showed greater distress alleviation and projected further into the future than younger adolescents.
• Task scores demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability but did not correlate with self-reported habitual use of temporal distancing or reappraisal.

Conclusions:

• The capacity for temporal distancing as an emotion regulation strategy develops throughout adolescence.
• Improved ability in temporal distancing does not necessarily correlate with its habitual use in daily life.
• The findings highlight a dissociation between the performance on a temporal distancing task and self-reported strategy use.