Development, factorial structure and reliability of the Multidimensional Scale of Emotional Regulation for Adolescents (MSERA): Preliminary analysis

Abstract

espanolDesarrollo, estructura factorial y fiabilidad de la Escala Multidimensional de Regulacion Emocional para Adolescentes (MSERA). La evaluacion de la regulacion emocional se ha enfocado en el componente cognitivo y la desregulacion; sin embargo, es importante incluir la identificacion emocional y la modulacion de respuesta para la evaluacion del proceso regulatorio. El objetivo de esta investigacion fue desarrollar una medida multidimensional del proceso de regulacion emocional en adolescentes y examinar su estructura factorial y fiabilidad. Se realizo un estudio instrumental con 887 adolescentes mexicanos de 13 a 18 anos. Se elaboro una version preliminar de la Escala Multidimensional de Regulacion Emocional para Adolescentes (MSERA) basada en los grupos focales y en modelos teoricos. El analisis factorial exploratorio arrojo 56 items distribuidos en ocho factores: Expresion de emociones positivas, Control emocional, Supresion, Cambio cognitivo, Reacciones fisicas, Reconocimiento de emociones negativas y Dificultad para regular. El analisis factorial confirmatorio con el metodo de minimos cuadrados robustos no ponderados, corroboro la solucion de ocho factores con 47 items, con indices de ajuste aceptables. Las alfas ordinales del modelo final (.85-.95), indicaron buena consistencia interna. Los resultados sugieren que el MSERA se podria utilizar como una medida valida y fiable, de la regulacion emocional en adolescentes. EnglishThe evaluation of emotion regulation has been focused on the cognitive component and the emotion dysregulation. However, it is also important to include emotion identification and modulation of the response for the evaluation of the regulatory process. The aim of this study was to develop a multidimensional measure of emotion regulation process in adolescents and to examine its factorial structure and reliability. An instrumental study was performed with 887 Mexican adolescents aged 13 to 18. A preliminary version of the Multidimensional Scale of Emotion Regulation for Adolescents (MSERA) was developed based on focus groups and considering the assumptions of the theoretical models. The exploratory factor analysis yielded 56 items distributed in eight factors: Recognition of positive emotions, Expression of positive emotions, Emotional control, Suppression, Cognitive change, Physical reactions, Recognition of negative emotions and Difficulty to regulate. A confirmatory factor analysis using the Robust Unweighted Least Squares, corroborated the initial solution of eight factors and showed acceptable fit indexes, considering 47 items. Ordinal alpha coefficients obtained for the factors of the final model, indicated a good internal consistency (.85-.95). Results suggest that the MSERA can be used as a valid and reliable measure of emotion regulation in adolescents.