Latent Factor Structure and Construct Validity of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire–Short Form Among Two PTSD Samples

Abstract

The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire–Short form (CERQ-Short; Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006) was developed to assess nine theoretically derived factors of emotion regulation. However, the psychometric properties of this measure have never been studied in a clinical sample. The present study examined the latent factor structure and construct validity of the CERQ-Short in two samples presenting for posttraumatic stress disorder treatment (N = 480). Results indicated that a six-factor solution, rather than the proposed nine factors, was the best-fitting measurement model. The original CERQ-Short factors of acceptance, positive refocusing, other-blame, and self-blame were retained. A novel perseveration factor incorporated both the original rumination and catastrophizing factors and a novel reappraisal factor incorporated items from the original positive reappraisal and putting into perspective factors. The revised six-factor measurement model provided good fit and demonstrated strong construct validity in a second clinical sample. Results support a more parsimonious six-factor CERQ-Short measurement model.