Difficulties In Emotion Regulation Scale Research Articles

Examining the relationship between emotion regulation, sleep quality, and anxiety disorder diagnosis

Anxiety disorders are highly comorbid with sleep disturbance and have also been associated with deficits in emotion regulation, the ability to control and express emotions. However, the extent to which specific dimensions of sleep disturbance and emotion regulation are associated with anxiety diagnosis is not well-explored. This study examined dimensions of emotion regulation and sleep disturbance that may predict greater likelihood of anxiety diagnosis using novel machine learning techniques. Participants (Mean(SD) age= 28.6(11.3) years, 62.7% female) with primary anxiety disorders (n = 257), including generalized anxiety disorder (n = 122) and social anxiety disorder (n = 135), and healthy controls (n = 89) completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A conditional inference tree was fit to classify likelihood of current anxiety diagnosis based on predictors. The best model fit included 4 split nodes and 5 terminal nodes. Worse scores on two emotion regulation subscales, strategies directed to manage negative emotions and nonacceptance of negative emotions, were the best predictors of current anxiety diagnosis (99.3% probability of diagnosis). For those with better emotion regulation, poor sleep quality and worse daytime functioning due to sleep were important predictors of anxiety diagnosis. Good emotion regulation and non-disturbed sleep predicted high likelihood of being a non-psychiatric control (88.2%). Limitations include cross-sectional design precluding designating directionality of effects of sleep and emotion regulation on anxiety onset; limited sample size; and self-reported sleep. Facets of emotion regulation and sleep disturbance may be important early targets for brief intervention for anxiety disorders.

Latent Profile Analysis of Eating Disorders and Emotional Well-being in College Students

Abstract Background: University students face a unique combination of academic pressures, transitional life stages, and potential social isolation, which can contribute to the development of unhealthy eating patterns and emotional problems. Objectives: To explore the association between quality of life, emotional problems, and eating disorders (ED) among university students, using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify distinct eating profiles. Methods: This cross-sectional exploratory study involved a total of 1,798 university students from Brazil and Canada (mean age= 21.2; women = 78.4%). The instruments used included the Addiction-like Eating Behaviour Scale (AEBS), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), WHOQOL-bref, Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P). Results: The LPA, conducted based on the AEBS raw scores due to the absence of diagnostic criteria, identified three eating behavior profiles: Profile 1 with lower scores in AEBS and YFAS, indicating a healthy eating pattern; Profile 2 with high scores, reflecting eating compulsion; and Profile 3 with intermediate characteristics. Profile 2, associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, showed a significantly reduced quality of life. No differences were detected regarding nationality, gender, type of university, or housing. Conclusion: The results highlight the complex relationships between eating behavior, mental health, and quality of life in university students, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to improve their well-being. Thus, ED and their consequent impact on mental health and quality of life are increasingly recognized as critical issues among university students, a group uniquely vulnerable to such challenges due to transitional life stages and academic pressures. Keywords: Latent Profile Analysis, Eating Disorders, University Students, Mental Health, Cross-Sectional Study.

Alteration of prefrontal cortex and its associations with emotional and cognitive dysfunctions in adolescent borderline personality disorder.

The neurobiological mechanism of borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescents remains unclear. The study aimed to assess the alterations in neural activity within prefrontal cortex in adolescents with BPD and investigate the relationship of prefrontal activity with emotional regulation and cognitive function. This study enrolled 50 adolescents aged 12-17 years with BPD and 21 gender and age-matched healthy control (HC) participants. Study assessment for each participant included a brain resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), clinical assessment questionnaires such as Borderline Personality Features Scale (BPFS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and cognitive testing with Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT). Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) were obtained from rs-fMRI analysis. Correlation analysis was also performed to evaluate the associations of the neuroimaging metrics such as fALFF and FC with clinical assessment questionnaire and cognitive testing scores. Adolescents with BPD showed increased fALFF values in the right inferior frontal gyrus and decreased activity in the left middle frontal gyrus as compared to the HC group (p < 0.05, cluster size ≥ 100, FWE correction). In adolescents with BPD, increased fALFF in the right inferior frontal gyrus was related to the BPFS (emotional dysregulation), DERS-F (lacking of emotional regulation strategies) and Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory-4C scores (internal emotional regulation function of self-injurious behavior). The reduced fALFF in the left middle frontal gyrus was associated with the SCWT-A (reading characters) and the SCWT-B (reading color) scores. Additionally, the fALFF values in the left middle frontal gyrus and the right inferior frontal gyrus were related to the CTQ-D (emotional neglect) (p < 0.05). The left middle frontal gyrus exhibited increased FC with the right hippocampus, left inferior temporal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus (voxel p < 0.001, cluster p < 0.05, FWE correction). The increased FC between the left middle frontal gyrus and the right hippocampus was related to the SCWT-C (cognitive flexibility) score. We observed diverging changes in intrinsic brain activity in prefrontal cortex, and neural compensatory changes to maintain function in adolescents with BPD. In addition, decreased neural function was closely associated with emotional dysregulation, while increased neural function as indicated by brain activity and FC was associated with cognitive dysfunction. These results indicated that alterations of intrinsic brain activity may be one of the underlying neurobiological markers for clinical symptoms in adolescents with BPD.

Meta-analysis of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and its short forms: Atwo-part study.

The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is the most used self-report questionnaire to assess deficits in emotion regulation (ER), composed of 6 dimensions and 36 items. Many studies have evaluated its factor structure, not always confirming the original results, and proposed different factor models. A possible way to try to identify the dimensionality of the DERS could be through a meta-analysis with structural equation models (MASEM) of its factor structure. The MASEM indicated that a six-factor model with 32 items (DERS-32) was the most suitable to represent the dimensionality of the DERS (χ2 = 2095.96, df = 449, p < .001; root mean square error of approximation[RMSEA] = 0.024, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.023-0.025; comparative fit index[CFI] = 0.97; Tucker Lewis index[TLI] = 0.96; standardized root mean squared residual[SRMR] = 0.04). This result was also confirmed by a confirmatory factor analysis (χ2 = 3229.67, df = 449, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.075, 95% CI: 0.073-0.078; CFI = 0.94; TLI = 0.93; SRMR = 0.05) on a new sample (1092 participants; mean age: 28.28, SD = 5.82 years) recruited from the Italian population. Analyses and results from this sample are reported in the second study of this work. The DERS-32 showed satisfactory internal consistency (i.e., ordinal α, Molenaar Sijtsma statistic,and latent class reliability coefficient)for all its dimensions and correctly categorized individuals with probable borderline symptomatology. In conclusion, the DERS-32 has demonstrated to be the best model for the DERS among all the others considered in this work, as well as a reliable tool to assess deficits in ER.

Brain oscillations during emotion regulation and the two-dimensional model of adult attachment

Emotion Regulation (ER) refers to the processes by which individuals influence their own emotions. It is a crucial aspect of human behavior, affecting everything from interpersonal relationships to mental health. The relationship between ER and Attachment Theory (AT) is pivotal. AT suggests that early bonds with primary caregivers influence future relationship expectations and behaviors. These initial experiences shape internal models of self and others, affecting how individuals regulate their emotions. Understanding the interplay between ER and AT is essential for comprehending the human affective system. In this study, we explored the neural underpinnings of ER, focusing on two distinct strategies: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Using electroencephalography (EEG), we examined changes in neural oscillations from 52 adults during an ER task. Specifically, we observed increased frontal theta activity (3–6 Hz) during reappraisal compared to suppression strategies. This frontal theta activity suggests enhanced cognitive control engagement. Conversely, during suppression, we noted a decrease in beta frequency (15–30 Hz) activity from central electrodes, indicative of differing neural processes. Further integrating psychological theories, we explored the relationship between these neural markers and dimensions of human attachment. Employing the Experiences in Close Relationships-12 scale (ECR-12), we identified a negative correlation between attachment anxiety and frontal theta activity. Lower levels of attachment anxiety were associated with increased theta activity, reflecting potentially more effective emotion regulation. Additionally, we found that higher theta activity corresponded with fewer difficulties in emotional control measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Regarding central beta activity, our findings revealed an interesting correlation with Emotional Inattention, a concept tied to Attachment Avoidance. This suggests that central beta activity may serve as a neural marker for specific attachment-related ER processing. These results highlight the distinct neural pathways involved in different ER strategies and their relationship with the AT and neural responses during emotional processing.

Validation of the Bipolar Recovery Questionnaire for the Portuguese Population: Recovery and Predictors in People with Bipolar Disorder.

The paradigm in mental health care is progressively moving towards a recovery-focused perspective. Thus, there is a need for validated instruments to measure recovery in bipolar disorder (BD). The Bipolar Recovery Questionnaire (BRQ) is the most used instrument to assess it. The aim of this study was to translate and perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the BRQ to European Portuguese (PT-PT) and to explore further associations of recovery with sociodemographic and emotional regulation, as well as recovery predictors to inform future research and clinical practice. The BRQ was forward-translated and back-translated until a consensus version was found, and a test-retest design was used to assess temporal stability. Participants were recruited in public hospitals and organizations supporting people with BD, either referred by their psychiatrists or psychologists or through self-referral. Eighty-eight individuals diagnosed with BD were recruited to complete a battery of Portuguese-validated self-report questionnaires to assess recovery (BRQ), clinical mood symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), affect (Positive and Negative Affect Scale), well-being (brief Quality of Life for Bipolar Disorder; Satisfaction with Life Scale) and emotion regulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale). The BRQ showed excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach alpha of 0.92, and test-retest exhibited good reliability (r = 0.88). Construct validity was confirmed through/by positive and moderate correlations with quality of life (QoL; r = 0.58) and positive affect (r = 0.52), and negative moderate correlations with depression (r = -0.64), and negative affect (r = -0.55). Both satisfaction with life (β = 0.38, p = 0.010) and recovery (β = 0.34, p = 0.022) impacted quality of life, supporting the BRQ's incremental validity. Depressive symptoms and emotion dysregulation accounted for 51% of its variance. The BRQ is a valid and reliable instrument to measure recovery in people with BD in the Portuguese population and is suitable for both clinical and research contexts.

Construct Validity and Measurement Invariance of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF): Further Evidence From Community and Student Samples

The current study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Short Form (DERS-SF) in Iran, including testing its measurement invariance across sexes, as well as community and student populations. Two samples were recruited: a community sample of 583 participants (58.7% female; Mage = 33.55) and a university student sample of 409 participants (67.2% female; Mage = 24.48). Besides the DERS-SF, participants completed a battery of instruments online, measuring mentalizing capacity and borderline personality features. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the tenability of the five-factor model, excluding the awareness subscale. Except for the awareness subscale, acceptable to excellent internal consistencies were found for the DERS-SF and its subscales. The awareness-excluded DERS-SF was significantly and strongly associated with relevant constructs (|rs| = .49 to .59). This study also found evidence for configural, metric, and scalar invariance of the DERS-SF across sexes and community and student populations. Our findings extended the evidence for the validity and reliability of the DERS-SF and its awareness-excluded version by administering it in Iranian samples and supporting its cross-cultural applicability.

Factor Structure of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale among Early Adolescents: Results from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study

Abstract Introduction Emotion regulation (ER) deficits in early adolescence are associated with subsequent negative health consequences, including anxiety and depression. Yet, limited work has evaluated the factor structure of measures of ER deficits in early adolescents, leaving a methodological gap for at-risk youths. Method This study examined the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) factor structure in early adolescents (N = 2300) recruited from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. We randomly split the sample into two sub-samples (n = 1150 each) and implemented an a-priori three-pronged approach: (1) A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed the fit of the six-factor DERS in Sample 1; (2) An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified an alternative factor structure in Sample 1; and (3) A second CFA assessed the new model in Sample 2. A bi-factor model was also used to assess the global structure of the DERS total and subscales. Results The original six-factor model yielded poor-to-adequate fit. EFA results supported an alternative five-factor model with different item mappings and ten omitted items. CFA results supported the five-factor solution with good fit. The bi-factor model, estimating a general factor with the five subscales, also demonstrated good fit. Discussion A five-factor structure of the DERS appears supported in a large community sample of early adolescents. Items from the former Awareness and Clarity subscales were combined into a single factor. Nearly all items from the former Strategies subscale were omitted, suggesting there may be developmental considerations rendering those items less relevant.

Parenting and Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties in a General Population Sample of Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Emotional Dysregulation.

Research has shown that both parenting and emotional dysregulation are associated with mental health outcomes in youth. This cross-sectional research was developed to replicate these noted findings and explore the mediating role of emotional dysregulation to explain the relationship between parenting and emotional and behavioral difficulties (internalizing and externalizing problems) in adolescents. A total of 104 adolescents (61.5% females; M = 15.62 yrs., SD = 1.38) participated in the study. Participants completed the Parental Bonding Instrument (measuring care, promotion of autonomy, and overprotection) referring to both the mother and father, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Youth Self-Report. The results showed that difficulties in emotion regulation fully mediated the relationship between overprotection (in both parents) and low maternal care with internalizing problems, on the one hand, and the relationship between maternal overprotection and low care (in both parents) with externalizing problems, on the other hand. Furthermore, emotional dysregulation partially mediated the effect of paternal care on internalizing problems. These findings help to clarify one of the mechanisms through which parenting can affect mental health in youth. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Efficacy of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) on Emotion Regulation, Addiction Severity, and Craving in Methamphetamine Abusers

Background: Emotion dysregulation and cravings play a pivotal role in the relapse of individuals grappling with substance use disorders. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) in ameliorating emotion regulation deficits and cravings among methamphetamine abusers in Tehran city. Methods: The study employed a semi-experimental design, featuring both a control group and intervention group. A sample was selected using convenience sampling, and 40 methamphetamine abusers in Tehran city were selected and randomly allocated into two groups: The intervention group (n = 20) and the control group (n = 20). The assessment tools employed included the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ), and the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). Data analysis was conducted through mixed repeated ANOVA, independent t-tests, and chi-square tests. Participants were evaluated at pre, post-intervention, and follow-up. Results: The results demonstrate that IPSRT significantly improves emotion regulation and substantially reduces cravings. This was conclusively indicated by the achievement of statistical significance (P &lt; 0.05). The effects of IPSRT were not only immediate but also enduring, as evidenced by consistent positive outcomes observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions: This investigation demonstrated the significant advantages of IPSRT in enhancing emotion regulation, reducing the severity of drug dependence, and craving tendencies among methamphetamine abusers. The findings of this study offer promising implications for the treatment of substance use disorders, reinforcing the potential adoption of IPSRT as a fundamental therapeutic strategy.

Emotion dysregulation links pathological eating styles and psychopathological traits in bariatric surgery candidates.

Approximately one-third of bariatric surgery patients experience weight regain or suboptimal weight loss within five years post-surgery. Pathological eating styles and psychopathological traits (e.g., emotion dysregulation) are recognized as potential hindrances to sustain weight loss efforts and are implicated in obesity development. A comprehensive understanding of these variables and their interplays is still lacking, despite their potential significance in developing more effective clinical interventions for bariatric patients. We investigate the prevalence of and interactions between pathological eating styles and psychopathological traits in this population. 110 bariatric surgery candidates were characterized using the Binge Eating Scale (BES), Hamilton Depression/Anxiety Scales (HAM-D/A), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). We analyzed these variables with multiple logistic regression analyses and network analysis. Patients with pathological eating styles showed more pronounced anxiety/depressive symptoms and emotion dysregulation. Network analysis revealed strong connections between BES and DERS, with DERS also displaying robust connections with HAM-A/D and ECR scales. DERS and attention impulsivity (BIS-11-A) emerged as the strongest nodes in the network. Our findings demonstrate the mediating role of emotion dysregulation between pathological eating styles and psychopathological traits, supporting existing literature on the association between psychopathological traits, insecure attachment styles, and pathological eating behaviors. This research emphasizes the significance of emotion regulation in the complex network of variables contributing to obesity, and its potential impact on bariatric surgery outcomes. Interventions focusing on emotion regulation may thus lead to improved clinical outcomes for bariatric patients.

An evaluation of survive and thrive: a 10-week group psychoeducational course for adult interpersonal trauma survivors in Scotland

ABSTRACT Emerging evidence supports a phased approach to trauma treatment, including manualised group-based interventions, to facilitate symptom reduction resulting from complex trauma sequelae. This study investigates the efficacy of Survive and Thrive, a 10-week group psychoeducational course for adult survivors of interpersonal trauma. Between August 2019 and February 2022, participants were enrolled on the course. The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation—Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale—Short Form (DERS-SF) were administered pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention. In addition, thematic analysis was applied to qualitative feedback. Results revealed significant reductions in CORE-OM and DERS-SF scores post-intervention, with minimal variability in scores attributed to group delivery (either face-to-face or online). The thematic analysis demonstrated that normalising trauma symptoms and providing coping skills positively impacted participants’ experiences. At the same time, the breadth and nature of the content were observed to be an occasional barrier to engagement. In summary, this study proposes that group-based psychoeducational interventions are generally effective for those with mild-to-moderate symptoms of complex trauma. However, further evidence is needed to offer more nuanced recommendations for identifying individuals who may benefit the most from these interventions.

Linking a latent variable trait-state-occasion model of emotion regulation to cognitive control

ABSTRACT Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a vulnerability factor for affective disorders that may originate from deficits in cognitive control (CC). Although measures of ED are often designed to assess trait-like tendencies, the extent to which such measures capture a time-varying (TV) or state-like construct versus a time-invariant (TI) or trait-like personality characteristic is unclear. The link between the TV and TI components of ED and CC is also unclear. In a 6-wave, 5-month longitudinal study, community participants (n = 1281) completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), a commonly used measure of ED and measures of CC. A latent variable (trait-state-occasion) model showed that the proportion of TI factor variance (.80) was greater than the TV factor variance (.19). Although TV factor stability was significant, the coefficients were small in magnitude. Furthermore, regression weights for the ED TI factor (average β  = −.62) were significant and larger than those for the TV factor (average β  = −.10) in predicting latent CC at each of the six-time points. These findings suggest that ED, as assessed by the DERS-16, is largely TI and this TI component is more strongly linked to CC than the TV component.

Childhood sexual abuse and suicide attempts in patients with substance use disorders: The mediating role of emotion dysregulation

BackgroundSuicide attempts (SA) are a public health concern because of increasing prevalence and clinical implications. Childhood trauma (CT) and emotion dysregulation (ED) have been proposed as predictors of SA, but few data are available in patients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). ObjectiveOur study aims to investigate the association of sociodemographic/clinical variables, CT typologies, and ED features with SA in SUD patients. Participants and settingSubjects with SUD were screened in an outpatient setting. The final sample consisted of 226 patients, subdivided according to the presence of lifetime SA (SUD, n = 163 vs. SUD-SA, n = 63). MethodsParticipants were compared for sociodemographic and clinical information. CT and ED were assessed through the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), respectively. We performed a mediation analysis to test the effect of CT and ED on SA. ResultsPatients with a history of SA (27.9 %) displayed more psychiatric comorbidities (p = 0.002) and hospitalizations (p < 0.001), higher scores at CTQ-SF sexual abuse (p < 0.001) and DERS ‘impulse’ (p = 0.002), ‘goals’, ‘non-acceptance’, ‘strategies’ (p < 0.001) subscales. The relationship between CTQ-SF sexual abuse and SA was significantly mediated by DERS ‘strategies’ (p = 0.04; bootstrapped 95 % LLCI-ULCI = 0.004–0.024). ConclusionsCT and different dimensions of ED were associated with SA in SUD patients. In our sample, the effects of childhood sexual abuse on SA were mediated by limited access to emotion regulation strategies. SUD patients are burdened with higher all-cause mortality, and CT and lifetime SA can worsen clinical outcomes. Clarifying the reciprocal interactions of psychopathological dimensions may help deliver targeted interventions and reduce suicide risk in specific populations.

Difficulties in emotion regulation and well-being in breast cancer

ABSTRACT Objective: Breast cancer is responsible for disruptive changes in women’s lives, causing them to experience diverse and intense negative emotions that can affect their perception of well-being. The present study aimed to characterize difficulties in emotion regulation (ER), according to Gratz and Roemer’s multidimensional assessment, in women with breast cancer and to relate them with General Well-Being and its different domains: Physical, Social/Familial, Emotional, and Functional. Method: Ninety-five Portuguese women with breast cancer aged between 32 and 75 years answered a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and the Portuguese versions of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General. Data were collected in an oncology public hospital. Results: In general, difficulties in ER presented negative correlations with General Well-Being and its domains. The multiple regression analysis findings indicated that two specific types of difficulties, Limited Access to ER Strategies and Lack of Emotional Clarity, play a significant role in predicting well-being, especially in the Emotional domain, which was most compromised in these patients. Conclusions: These difficulties should be approached within psycho-oncological interventions as they are essential contributors to improving emotional and general well-being and fostering psychological adaptation to breast cancer.

Attachment Style and Emotional Regulation as Protective and Risk Factors in Mutual Dating Violence among Youngsters: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Violence in intimate partner relationships among young adults has become a global health problem given its prevalence and its negative effects on physical and psychological well-being. The severity of the problem has given rise to a large body of research that has attempted to find the variables associated with victimization in young couples (for example, attachment style, emotional regulation skills or empathy, among others). Moreover, traditionally, many of these investigations have only considered the point of view of female victims within a gender violence approach. However, in recent times, more and more evidence of the existence of mutual violence in young relationships has been found. These findings, combined with simplistic explanations of the phenomenon, have proven to be insufficient to prevent it. In this context, the main objective of this study was to investigate how some variables linked to dating violence interact with each other, modifying the mutual violence young people suffer and exercise. Considering this, different instruments were administered (the Experience in Close Relationships Scale (ECR-R); Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS-E); Basic Empathy Scale (BES); and Multidimensional Couple Violence Scale (EMVN)) to a sample of 557 young Chileans. The analysis of the results, based on the construction of a moderated mediation model, reveals that difficulties in emotional regulation are a predictor of violence in intimate partner relationships, whose direct and indirect effects on the violence exercised can be moderated by that partner's attachment style. The findings also reveal that there is no association between empathy and violence, and they highlight that both men and women are victims and aggressors at the same time. This demonstrate the need to consider prevention and intervention strategies aimed at both sexes, since intimate partner violence is mutual and reciprocal.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (P-YFAS 2.0) in an Iranian Clinical Sample

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric aspects of Persian version of Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) and the prevalence of Food Addiction (FA) among Iranian obese population seeking bariatric surgery.&#x0D; Methods:  In this cross-sectional study, psychometric aspects of the YFAS 2.0 including validity and reliability were assessed. Convergent and discriminant validity of the YFAS 2.0 was evaluated using Eating Disorder Inventory-3, Referral form (EDI-3 RF), Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-15) and reliability of the scale was examined by test-retest analysis and internal consistency.&#x0D; Results: Among 124 patients (48.6%) who met FA criteria, 2 patients (1.6%) received a mild, 12 (9.6%) a moderate, and 110 (88.7%) a severe FA diagnosis. FA was more prevalent and severe in females, unmarried individuals, unemployed patients, and those with higher Body Mass Index (BMI) or binge eating disorder/bulimia nervosa diagnoses. Reliability analysis showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.89) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.88). Content validity was 0.8 or higher in terms of convergent validity. Except for one criterion, a one-factor structure was confirmed for the P-YFAS 2.0 (above 0.42). FA prevalence was higher in participants with BED or bulimia nervosa, and FA severity was correlated with scores on measures of impulsivity, emotion regulation difficulties, eating behaviors and psychopathology.&#x0D; Conclusion: These findings support the reliability and validity of the P-YFAS 2.0 in assessing FA as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fifth (DSM-5). The high rate of FA identified highlights the need for targeted interventions in this clinical population.

Maternal Education and Child Self-Regulation: Do Maternal Self-Regulation and Responsiveness Mediate the Association?

ObjectiveTo examine the mediating role of observed maternal responsiveness and maternal self-regulation on the association between maternal education and children’s self-regulation. MethodsEnglish-speaking mother-child dyads (n = 189) were recruited from a previous study and were eligible if the child was kindergarten eligible at the start of the 2020 to 2021 or 2021 to 2022 school year. Key measures included: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale—Short Form for maternal emotional self-regulation, Culturally Affirming and Responsive Experiences for maternal responsiveness, and the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders for child self-regulation. The association between years of maternal education and child self-regulation was examined with linear regression, and the mediation analyses utilized 4 subsequent steps examining their relations. These steps were checked through a series of linear regressions, and beta weights were used to describe associations. Each potential mediator was examined separately. ResultsChildren of mothers with higher education had significantly higher self-regulation, slope of 1.3 (95% confidence interval 0.3, 2.4, P = 0.015, beta = 0.18). Further, mothers with higher education had significantly higher observed responsiveness. The beta-weight of 0.34 (P < 0.001) supported maternal responsiveness as a mediator. Finally, in the test for direct and indirect effects, observed maternal responsiveness explained 29% (95% confidence interval 3.3%, 115%) of the association between maternal education and child self-regulation. ConclusionsThis study highlights a key mechanism related to children’s self-regulation skills and the significant role of observed maternal responsiveness in explaining the association between maternal education and child self-regulation.

The Association between Intimate Partner Violence and Female Syrian Refugees’ Mental Health

Abstract Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the world’s most critical public health issues. Aims: The main aim of the study was (1) to examine the association between IPV and female Syrian refugees’ mental health. We also wanted: (2) to assess the prevalence of IPV and its subtypes – controlling, emotional, physical, and sexual violence – among female Syrian refugees, (3) to evaluate the association between childhood maltreatment and IPV, and (4) examine IPV and risky behaviors. Settings and Design: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. A clinician interviewed (n = 289) female Syrian refugees seeking therapy in Egypt. Materials and Methods: Female Syrian refugees completed the following assessments: WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)-16. Results: Female Syrian refugees who had experienced IPV scored significantly higher on the BDI-II (U = 1799, P &lt; 0.00), BAI (U = 2511.5, P &lt; 0.00), and DERS (U = 1636, P &lt; 0.00). In addition, 90.3% of them experienced psychological control, 91.3% emotional abuse, 39.4% physical violence, and 27% sexual violence by an intimate partner. Those who had experienced physical IPV were more likely to use substances (χ 2 = 5.8, P &lt; 0.05), engage in binge eating (χ 2 = 17.5, P &lt; 0.001), and have suicidal thoughts or behaviors (χ 2 = 5.1, P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Female Syrian refugees with a history of IPV exhibited significantly worse mental health. There is an imperative need for mental health treatment and prevention strategies for female Syrian refugees.

The relationship among emotion regulation and pain catastrophizing in chronic pain patients.

Pain catastrophizing (PC) is a cognitive/emotional response to and in anticipation of pain, which may be maladaptive, further exacerbating pain and the difficulty in emotion regulation (ER). There is a lack of research on the interplay between PC and ER and its impact on pain. Our aim was to investigate whether ER exacerbated the pain experience through PC. Adults with chronic pain of > 3 months' duration (n = 150) with non-cancer pain and taking opioid medication were recruited from a large medical center in Pennsylvania. A battery of questionaries was conducted to gather data on demographics, substance use, mental health histories, and health and pain outcomes. Measures used included Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale 18 Item, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A structural equation model with latent variables was conducted to examine our aim. Both pain interference and severity were significantly positively associated with several psychosocial variables, such as anxiety, depression, ER constructs, PC and distress intolerance. The associations between subscales and pain interference were larger than those with pain severity. PC fully mediated the paths from ER to pain experiences. Our results highlight the importance of several cognitive and emotional constructs: Non-acceptance of negative emotions, lack of emotional awareness, magnification of pain experience, and a sense of helplessness. Further, by showing the indirect effects from PC in affecting ER and pain, we posit that ER, mediated by PC, may serve a critical role in influencing the pain experience in chronic pain patients.