In this article published in the latest issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology with Children and Adolescents, the 16-item Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS-16) is validated in Ecuadorian teenagers.

🔢 Methodology:

  • 904 teenagers participated (53.5% female; mean age = 16.6; SD = 1.15) from nine cities in Ecuador.
  • A descriptive and instrumental design was used to evaluate the DERS-16 in a cross-sectional sample.
  • A hierarchical factor model with five first-order factors and one second-order general factor was used to analyze the validity of the DERS-16.

📊 Key Findings:

  • The DERS-16 showed adequate factorial validity through a hierarchical model.
  • The model was invariant by sex, but significant differences were found in latent means: females experienced more difficulties in emotional regulation than males.
  • The DERS-16 demonstrated high internal consistency overall.

🧐 Conclusions:

The DERS-16 is a valid tool for assessing difficulties in emotional regulation in Ecuadorian teenagers.

The full article can be consulted here: https://www.revistapcna.com/sites/default/files/7_2367.pdf