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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

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22-04-2021 | Original Paper

A Preliminary Psychometric Analysis of the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) Among Autistic Adolescents and Adults: Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity

Auteurs: Alana J. McVey, Hillary K. Schiltz, Marika Coffman, Ligia Antezana, Brooke Magnus

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 3/2022

Abstract

Emotion dysregulation is common among autistic people, yet few measures have received psychometric evaluation in this population. We examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of a commonly-used measure of emotion dysregulation, the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), in a sample of 156 autistic adolescents and adults. Data were drawn from the NIH National Database for Autism Research (NDAR) and an author’s existing dataset. Results demonstrated that the factor structure generally conformed to the original 6-factor model, with modifications. Reliability analyses revealed good-to-excellent internal consistencies. Validity analyses indicated that the DERS was positively associated with measures of anxiety, depression, and alexithymia. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for the utility of the DERS in a small autistic sample, with minor modifications.

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Titel: A Preliminary Psychometric Analysis of the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) Among Autistic Adolescents and Adults: Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity
Auteurs: Alana J. McVey
Hillary K. Schiltz
Marika Coffman
Ligia Antezana
Brooke Magnus
Publicatiedatum: 22-04-2021
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 3/2022
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05018-4

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