Abstract
A considerable amount of clinical research interest has recently developed regarding emotion dysregulation and psychopathology.
Many have suggested that distinct affective management deficits may characterize anxiety and mood pathology. Despite increased
research attention, efforts to validate and sufficiently investigate the psychometric properties of many self-report measures
of affect regulation have been lacking. The current study examined the response behavior of 1566 undergraduate participants
who completed the Affective Control Scale (ACS). The ACS assesses fear of intense emotion, and it is frequently used in empirical
research. The present investigation examined the structural qualities of the measure using exploratory and confirmatory factor
analytic techniques. Findings suggest the original four rationally-derived subscales do not adequately fit the observed response
patterns. Rather, results indicated that a five-factor solution that included a subscale measuring emotion mismanagement better
represented response behavior. Additional normative data and bivariate correlations with other measures of emotion regulation
and affect are presented.
Many have suggested that distinct affective management deficits may characterize anxiety and mood pathology. Despite increased
research attention, efforts to validate and sufficiently investigate the psychometric properties of many self-report measures
of affect regulation have been lacking. The current study examined the response behavior of 1566 undergraduate participants
who completed the Affective Control Scale (ACS). The ACS assesses fear of intense emotion, and it is frequently used in empirical
research. The present investigation examined the structural qualities of the measure using exploratory and confirmatory factor
analytic techniques. Findings suggest the original four rationally-derived subscales do not adequately fit the observed response
patterns. Rather, results indicated that a five-factor solution that included a subscale measuring emotion mismanagement better
represented response behavior. Additional normative data and bivariate correlations with other measures of emotion regulation
and affect are presented.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10862-011-9236-7
- Authors
- Stephen E. Melka, Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Mailcode 6502, Carbondale, IL 62901-6502, USA
- Steven L. Lancaster, Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Mailcode 6502, Carbondale, IL 62901-6502, USA
- Andrew R. Bryant, Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Mailcode 6502, Carbondale, IL 62901-6502, USA
- Benjamin F. Rodriguez, Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Mailcode 6502, Carbondale, IL 62901-6502, USA
- Rebecca Weston, Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, 1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249-0652, USA
- Journal Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
- Online ISSN 1573-3505
- Print ISSN 0882-2689