The internal consistencies for the NARQ, structure based on the modified CFA model, were satisfactory: α = .73 for Reappraisal (5 items), α = .80 for Suppression (5 items) and α = .71 for Externalizing Behavioral Strategies (7 items).
If the factorial solution of the instrument is stable over time, the latter sort of change can be ruled out since item loadings are affected by a reappraisal of the items [ 17].
However, changes in test score may also reflect a reappraisal of the items, i.e. a reappraisal of the symptoms or a reappraisal of their impact.
The ERQ has six items for reappraisal and four items for suppression, explicitly referring to the regulation of positive as well as negative emotions.
The items included in the Reappraisal scale indicate a wider understanding of the construct "Reappraisal" than the Reappraisal subscale used by Gross and John [ 27], which probably also causes the smaller correlation between those two scales in contrast to the Suppression scales.
The items referred to Avoidance, Reappraisal, Religion, Active cognitive coping, Active behavioral coping, and Social support.
The wording of the items are very similar, asking for Reappraisal and Suppression on an abstract level and with seven answer options, which might be difficult to answer and to interpret, especially for people with mental disorders [ 34].
This provided the rationale for the current study which aimed at developing the Negative Affect Repair Questionnaire (NARQ) including those three scales, measuring them with more palpable, behavior-related items that measure different aspects of Reappraisal and Suppression and ensuring their stability across clinical and non-clinical groups.
Sum scores for the emotion regulation strategies cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression were calculated from six and four item scores, respectively [ 36]. t-tests confirmed statistically significant differences on all four variables, see Table 3.
