Assessment of behavioral emotion regulation and relationship with mental health in adults: BERQ Japanese version.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Behavioral Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (BERQ) and explore the relation between the BERQ and mental health (depression, anxiety, and well-being).

Methods: First, with a sample of 489 adult participants (246 males and 243 females; mean age 45.8 ± 13.5 years), the psychometric properties of the BERQ and its correlation with mental health were examined. Second, with a two-wave, three-week panel design among 375 Japanese participants (189 males and 186 females; mean age 46.9 ± 13.2 years), structural equation modeling was employed to examine the cross-lagged associations between the subscales of BERQ score and mental health.

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the allocation of the items to the subscales, with high Cronbach's alpha coefficients for all the scales. Greater use of various factors, such as Seeking Distraction, Actively Approaching, and Seeking Social Support, was correlated with greater well-being. Conversely, greater use of Withdrawal was related to higher depression and anxiety levels but lower well-being. However, interestingly, the results of latent cross-lagged panel analysis indicated Withdrawal had a positive effect on depression, a negative effect on well-being, however, no significant effect on anxiety. Whereas anxiety had a positive effect on Withdrawal.

Conclusion: The results of this study highlight BERQ Japanese version is useful tool to assess the behavioral emotion regulation strategies. Moreover, an aspect of psychological process has been suggested, indicating that anxiety may play a key role in amplifying withdrawal, and may lead depression.