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Examination of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale and its relation to disordered eating in a young female sample

Cooper, Jane L.; O'Shea, Anne E.; Atkinson, Melissa J.; Wade, Tracey D.

Authors

Jane L. Cooper

Anne E. O'Shea

Tracey D. Wade



Abstract

Objective Difficulties with emotion regulation is considered an important maintaining factor of disordered eating. One of the most commonly used measures of this construct is the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). The aim of this study was to explore the factor structure of this measure in young females and to examine its reliability and validity with respect to disordered eating. Method Females aged 17-25 years (M age=19.6 years, N=486) were examined in the analyses. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted followed by regression analyses examining the DERS subscales as predictors of eating disorder severity and disordered eating behaviors. Results The original 6-factor 36-item model did not fit well and analyses indicated a 6-factor 30-item solution was a more suitable fit for our population. Validity and reliability of the 30-item solution were found to be acceptable. Regression analyses also indicated the 36- and 30-item models were able to adequately predict eating disorder severity and disordered eating behaviors with the "Awareness" and "Goals" subscales being predictors of the former, and the "Impulsivity" subscale being a significant predictor of the latter. Discussion The overall findings suggest that an abbreviated version of the DERS might be more appropriate than the original version with young females and that this measure exhibits stronger relationships with eating disorder severity and disordered eating behaviors than the longer version. Further examinations of the psychometric properties of the DERS with clinical populations are indicated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Citation

Cooper, J. L., O'Shea, A. E., Atkinson, M. J., & Wade, T. D. (2014). Examination of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale and its relation to disordered eating in a young female sample. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(6), 630-639. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22278

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2014
Journal International Journal of Eating Disorders
Print ISSN 0276-3478
Electronic ISSN 1098-108X
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 47
Issue 6
Pages 630-639
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22278
Keywords emotion regulation, disordered eating, lack of emotional awareness, impulsivity
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/823788
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eat.22278
Additional Information Additional Information : Article first published online: 23 March 2014.