Mario Trógolo

Construct Validity of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale: Further Evidence Using Confirmatory Factor Analytic Approach

Background: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) represents one of the most popular, comprehensive and well-established measure of emotion regulation, being widely used in clinical and nonclinical settings. Despite it widespread use, there is no agreement about the factorial structure and majority of prior research has been focused in replicate the original DERS model, while studies examining competing models are lacking. Thus, further examination is needed in order to ascertain the more appropriate factor structure. The present study sought to examine the latent factor structure of the DERS by testing several alternative models using a confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) strategy. Methods: Six-hundred and nine adults (367 men) from general population aged from 18 to 51 years old completed the DERS. Results: Findings did not support the original six-factor correlated model. Rather, CFA studies showed that a four-factor correlated model including lack of emotional clarity, no acceptance of emotional responses, difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior, and impulse control difficulties had better fit to the data. Drawing on empirical research from affective neuroscience, a two correlated second-order CFA model accounting for the four factors was examined. The hypothesized two factors were represented by difficulties in emotion processing and difficulties in the regulation of emotional response. Results showed acceptable and similar goodness-of-fit indices compared to the four-factor correlated model, while test for model comparison revealed non-significant differences between fit of the two models. Conclusion: Results indicate that both a four-factor correlated model and a two higher-order correlated factor model are adequate to explain the latent factor structure of DERS. However, the last model is recommended since it provides researchers with a more parsimonious, neurobiological-based conceptualization and assessment of emotion regulation. Limitations and directions for future investigation are also addressed.

Personality traits, difficulties in emotion regulation and academic satisfaction in a sample of argentine college students

In recent years academic satisfaction in college students has been subject of considerable research, analysis and theorizing among educational researchers. The purpose of the current study was to examine the contributions of personality traits, using the Big Five Factor Model, and difficulties in emotion regulation to predict academic satisfaction in a sample of university students in Cordoba, Argentina. Contrary to expectations, results of hierarchical regression analysis showed that neither the Big Five traits nor difficulties in emotion regulation made a significantly contribution to the prediction of academic satisfaction. However when considering the overall profile of personality and emotion regulation, two subgroups theoretically and empirically consistent with significant differences in academic satisfaction were identified. Results, implications and limitations of the current study are discussed.

Validez y Confiabilidad del Inventario de Expresión de Ira (DAX) en C onductores de Argentina

espanolEl objetivo de este estudio fue examinar las propiedades psicometricas del Driver Expression Inventory ( DAX ) para su uso en Argentina. Se aplico la escala a 378 conductores (hombres = 50.3%) con edades entre 18 y 77 anos de la poblacion general de Cordoba, Argentina. Mediante analisis factorial no restricto se identificaron cinco factores, congruentes con los propuestos en la escala original. Los indices de con sistencia interna fueron satisfactorios para todos los factores ( α= .78 - .85). Asimismo, se correlacionaron las dimensiones del DAX con medidas de ira y de comportamiento en la conduccion, encontrandose relaciones significativas y coherentes en terminos te oricos, obteniendose asi evidencia concurrente. Finalmente, por medio de analisis de regresion jerarquica se obtuvo evidencia de validez incremental del DAX. En conjunto, los resultados avalan la validez y fiabilidad del DAX para su utilizacion en el cont exto Argentino, aunque se requieren de nuevos estudios que analicen propiedades psicometricas adicionales. EnglishThe purpose of the current study was to examine psychometric properties of the Driver Expression Inventory (DAX) in Argentina. A sample of 378 drivers (males = 50.3%) aged 18 to 77 years old from the general population of Cordoba, Argentina, participated in the study. Unrestricted factor analysis yielded five factors consistent with the original scale. Internal consistency were satisfactory for all DAX subscales ( α =.78 - .85). Correlations between DAX and measures of driving anger and drivers’ behavior provided concurrent validity. Finally, hierarchical regression anal yses showed additional and significant contribution of the DAX in predicting driving - related behaviors beyond demographic variables (i.e. age and gender) and driving anger, supporting for incremental validity. Overall, results support the validity and reli ability of the DAX in Argentina, although we note that further studies are needed in order to evaluate additional psychometric properties.