Development and preliminary validation of the visual method '3D emotion composition' for evaluating emotional...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Assessment

Background:

• Traditional self-report measures for emotional experience face challenges in individuals with depression due to difficulties in emotion differentiation and verbal expression.
• The 3D Emotion Composition (3DEC) method was developed as a visual, tangible, spatial, and interactive alternative to verbal recall for emotion representation.
• This study aimed to develop and validate 3DEC for assessing emotional experience in individuals with depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and preliminarily validate the 3D Emotion Composition (3DEC) method as an alternative assessment tool for emotional experience in individuals with depression.
• To evaluate the convergent and known-group validity of the 3DEC method.

Main Methods:

• The study involved two phases: development/face validity assessment and preliminary validity testing.
• 90 participants (45 with depression, 45 controls) completed the 3DEC method and the Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire (ERSQ).
• Convergent validity was assessed via correlations between 3DEC and ERSQ; known-group validity was examined by comparing results between depressed and control groups.

Main Results:

• 3DEC demonstrated moderate-to-strong correlations with ERSQ emotion scales (r = 0.30-0.62, p < .001), supporting convergent validity.
• Significant differences were found between individuals with depression and controls using 3DEC (p < .001).
• Individuals with depression reported higher sadness, fear, and guilt, and lower joy and interest compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary evidence supports the validity of 3DEC as a visual, tangible, and interactive tool for assessing emotional experience in depression.
• 3DEC captures emotional intensity, frequency, and regulation beyond traditional self-report, offering potential clinical insights.
• Future research should focus on test-retest reliability, sensitivity to therapeutic change, and clinical intervention applications.