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Utilizing an Ability-Based Measure to Detect Emotion Regulation Deficits in Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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Abstract

In recent years, the field of emotion regulation has advanced current conceptualizations of many forms of psychopathology. Difficulties with emotion regulation have been detected via self-report in several anxiety and depressive disorders, and in particular, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, there is a paucity of research examining emotion regulation ability in this population, leaving open the possibility that self-report measures reflect an individual’s perception of his/her emotion regulation skills rather than skills themselves. The present study examined the utility of an ability-based measure of emotional intelligence in the assessment of emotion-related deficits in GAD as well as the concordance between the ability-based measure and self-reports of emotion regulation skills. Results revealed that individuals with GAD demonstrated significantly more difficulty regulating their emotions than control participants did on both ability-based and self-report measures. Further, these measures showed a moderate concordance with each other. Findings suggest it will be important to integrate ability-based measurement of emotion-related deficits with other assessment modalities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Boston University, 648 Beacon St., Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Caroline E. Kerns

  2. Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, 611 North, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Douglas S. Mennin

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Guthrie Hall Box 351525, Seattle, WA, 98195-1525, USA

    Frank J. Farach

  4. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland St., William James Hall, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Christopher C. Nocera

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  1. Caroline E. Kerns
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  2. Douglas S. Mennin
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  3. Frank J. Farach
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  4. Christopher C. Nocera
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Correspondence to Douglas S. Mennin.

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Kerns, C.E., Mennin, D.S., Farach, F.J. et al. Utilizing an Ability-Based Measure to Detect Emotion Regulation Deficits in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 36, 115–123 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-013-9372-3

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