Developing a Korean Language Measure of Generalized Expectancies for Negative Mood Regulation

Abstract

Negative mood regulation expectancies (NMRE) represent people`s confidence that, when they are in an unpleasant mood, they will be capable of improving that mood. Catanzaro and Mearns (1990) created the NMR Scale to measure NMRE. Evidence for the cross-cultural validity of NMRE is provided by translations of the NMR Scale into European and Asian languages. The current paper presents two studies assessing the reliability and preliminary validity of a new Korean-language NMR Scale (the NMR-K). The NMR-K was created following an emic approach that went beyond literal translation. Initially 60 items were tested, including Korean translations of the original 30-item American NMR Scale, as well as Korean translations of 19 items created for Japanese and Chinese language NMR Scales. Finally, 11 new items were written to assess methods of regulating moods that may be especially relevant to Korean culture. Over 1,700 Korean college students completed the NMR-K and measures of mood, adjustment and socially desirable responding. Psychometric analyses suggested 30 items should be retained; the resulting scale had a Cronbach`s alpha of .90. The 30-item NMR-K correlated positively with happiness, life satisfaction and positive affect. It correlated negatively with depression, suicidal ideation, negative affect and symptoms of psychopathology. The NMR-K correlated significantly but modestly with social desirability. These results support the reliability and preliminary validity of the NMR-K as a measure of NMRE in South Korea and provide further evidence for the cross-cultural validity of the NMRE construct.