Testing a digital and interactive scale (the three circles) to assess emotion regulation

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health

Background:

• The tripartite model of emotion regulation (threat, drive, soothing systems) is central to Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).
• Current assessment relies on indirect self-report measures, limiting understanding of system interactivity.
• There is a need for direct, dynamic measures of these emotion regulation systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and psychometrically test a novel digital measure of the tripartite model of emotion regulation.
• To evaluate the measure's construct validity and test-retest reliability.
• To provide a brief, dynamic tool for assessing CFT-related emotion regulation.

Main Methods:

• A novel digital measure of the tripartite model was developed.
• The measure was psychometrically tested on 311 young adults (aged 18-24).
• Construct validity was assessed against existing emotion, emotion regulation, and mental health measures. Test-retest reliability was established in a separate sample of 90 participants.

Main Results:

• The digital measure demonstrated good construct validity with established self-report instruments.
• Evaluation indicated the measure effectively captures central CFT theory.
• Test-retest reliability was confirmed in a second sample, supporting its stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed digital measure is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the tripartite model of emotion regulation.
• This brief, dynamic scale can be readily used in clinical practice and research settings.
• The measure facilitates a more direct assessment of emotion regulation systems within CFT frameworks.