title: The emotion regulation questionnaire in women with cancer: A psychometric evaluation and an item response theory analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emotion regulation is thought to play an important role in adaptation to cancer. However, the emotion regulation questionnaire (ERQ), a widely used instrument to assess emotion regulation, has not yet been validated in this context. This study addresses this gap by examining the psychometric properties of the ERQ in a sample of Portuguese women with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ERQ was administered to 204 women with cancer (mean age = 48.89 years, SD = 7.55). Confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory analysis were used to examine psychometric properties of the ERQ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the 2-factor solution proposed by the original authors (expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal). This solution was invariant across age and type of cancer. Item response theory analyses showed that all items were moderately to highly discriminant and that items are better suited for identifying moderate levels of expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal. Support was found for the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the ERQ. The pattern of relationships with emotional control, alexithymia, emotional self-efficacy, attachment, and quality of life provided evidence of the convergent and concurrent validity for both dimensions of the ERQ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the ERQ is a psychometrically sound approach for assessing emotion regulation strategies in the oncological context. Clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Center for Psychology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7865-2445
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Marc S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Center for Psychology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula Mena
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Matos
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Cancer; Emotion Regulation Questionnaire; Item response theory; Oncology; Psychometric analysis