Factorial and construct validity of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) in an Australian sample

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) is a 36-item self-report measure of nine emotion regulation strategies, extensively used in research. Despite widespread use, the instrument’s factor structure has not been investigated in an Australian sample, and some international scholars have questioned the factorial validity of the English translation. This study examined the CERQ’s psychometric properties in an Australian community sample. Method A sample of 781 Australian adults completed an online questionnaire consisting of demographic information, the CERQ, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the original nine-factor model was not a good fit for the sample data, and a seven-factor model emerged as the best solution. The study investigated the construct validity of the seven-factor model by examining the relationship to self-reported psychological distress (DASS-21). Correlational and regression analysis supported construct validity; however, correlational results for the acceptance subscale suggest conceptual ambiguity. Conclusion The results demonstrate that a more parsimonious seven-factor model, rather than the proposed nine- and five-factor solutions, was the best fit for our data and suggest the factor structure of the CERQ may vary significantly between samples.