Abstract
Background
Interpersonal emotion regulation is a culture-sensitive construct, but little research so far has investigated it in the Chinese culture, where collectivism is emphasized and interpersonal harmony is valued.
Aims
This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (IERQ) among Chinese caregiving parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).
Method
A group of 293 Chinese parents were recruited from two service centers for children with NDDs in central China. The participants completed the Chinese version of the IERQ and measures of conceptually related constructs (cognitive emotion regulation and quality of life).
Results
Results of confirmatory factor analyses suggested that a bi-factor model was superior to the original four-factor model of the IERQ, implying cultural and contextual specificity of interpersonal emotion regulation among this parent group. The instrument exhibited satisfactory internal consistency reliability, concurrent validity with cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and explanatory power for quality of life beyond cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Additionally, Chinese caregivers tended to use less enhancing positive affect, soothing and social modeling when compared to American, Turkish and Iranian samples.
Conclusions
To conclude, the Chinese version of the IERQ is a valid and reliable self-report measure which can be used to assess the ways Chinese parents utilize others to regulate their own emotions. Moreover, creating a socially expressive, acceptable, and inclusive atmosphere that can promote interpersonal emotion regulation may be crucial to improve their overall well-being.
Interpersonal emotion regulation is a culture-sensitive construct, but little research so far has investigated it in the Chinese culture, where collectivism is emphasized and interpersonal harmony is valued.
Aims
This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (IERQ) among Chinese caregiving parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs).
Method
A group of 293 Chinese parents were recruited from two service centers for children with NDDs in central China. The participants completed the Chinese version of the IERQ and measures of conceptually related constructs (cognitive emotion regulation and quality of life).
Results
Results of confirmatory factor analyses suggested that a bi-factor model was superior to the original four-factor model of the IERQ, implying cultural and contextual specificity of interpersonal emotion regulation among this parent group. The instrument exhibited satisfactory internal consistency reliability, concurrent validity with cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and explanatory power for quality of life beyond cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Additionally, Chinese caregivers tended to use less enhancing positive affect, soothing and social modeling when compared to American, Turkish and Iranian samples.
Conclusions
To conclude, the Chinese version of the IERQ is a valid and reliable self-report measure which can be used to assess the ways Chinese parents utilize others to regulate their own emotions. Moreover, creating a socially expressive, acceptable, and inclusive atmosphere that can promote interpersonal emotion regulation may be crucial to improve their overall well-being.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Cognitive Therapy and Research |
| Early online date | 6 Mar 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 6 Mar 2025 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s) 2025.
Funding
Open Access Publishing Support Fund provided by Lingnan University This study is funded by Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [#2022A1515111036], and Guangdong Social Science Research Fund [#GD22XSH02]. Dr. Hofmann receives financial support by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (as part of the Alexander von Humboldt Professur), the Hessische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (as part of the LOEWE Spitzenprofessur), and the DYNAMIC center, funded by the LOEWE program of the Hessian Ministry of Science and Arts (Grant Number: LOEWE1/16/519/03/09.001(0009)/98). The last author also receives compensation for his work as editor from SpringerNature and royalties and payments for his work from various publishers.
Keywords
- Interpersonal Emotion Regulation
- Caregivers
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders