Description: Used for ages 18+ years. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is an 36-item measure used to identify emotional regulation issues in adults.
Learn more about the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Scoring: Higher score = Greater difficulty with emotion regulation
Items are rated from 1 to 5
180 is the highest possible score
Subscales:
Nonacceptance of emotional responses (Nonacceptance) items:
- 11, 12, 21, 23, 25, 29
Difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior (Goals) items:
- 13, 18, 20 (reverse scored), 26, 33
Impulse control difficulties (Impulse) items:
- 3, 14, 19, 24 (reverse scored), 27, 32
Lack of emotional awareness (Awareness) items:
- 2 (reverse scored), 6 (reverse scored), 8 (reverse scored), 10 (reverse scored), 17 (reverse scored), 34 (reverse scored)
Limited access to emotion regulation strategies (Strategies) items:
- 15, 16, 22 (reverse scored), 28, 30, 31, 35, 36
Lack of emotional clarity (Clarity) items:
- 1 (reverse scored), 4, 5, 7R, 9
Click here to view the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale.