Difficulties in interpersonal regulation of emotions (DIRE) questionnaire: Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version and Associations with psychopathological symptoms

Abstract

The goal of this research was to validate an Italian adaptation of the questionnaire Difficulties in Interpersonal Regulation of Emotions (DIRE) and to investigate its associations with psychopathology. An Italian sample ( N = 630) completed the DIRE and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). We tested the factorial structure of the DIRE using explorative and confirmatory factorial analyses; we analysed the convergent validity in terms of zero-order correlations with SCL-90 dimensions; and, we conducted multiple regressions to test the predictivity of DIRE factors on specific SCL-90 dimensions. The Italian DIRE replicated the four-factor structure of the original measure, with two interpersonal (Vent and Reassurance-seek) and two intrapersonal (Accept and Avoid) factors. Interpersonal factors resulted correlated with SCL-90 global indexes of psychopathology. Moreover, specific association between DIRE factors and SCL-90 dimensions were found. The Italian DIRE is a reliable and valid measure to evaluate clinically-relevant forms of emotion dysregulation.

Interpersonal emotion regulation questionnaire: psychometric properties of the Italian version and associations with psychopathology

“…First, the observation of significant correlations between Soothing and Social Modelling with self-reported psychopathology would clearly account for a negative adaptive value of such strategies. In line with this hypothesis, both strategies also strongly correlated with the difficulties in IER evaluated with the DIRE questionnaire (Dixon-Gordon et al ., 2018 ; Messina et al ., 2022 , in press). In the case of Perspective Taking, instead, we did not observe significant associations with psychopathology, and observing positive correlations with the intra-personal regulation strategies of Reappraisal (evaluated with the ERQ) and Accept (evaluated with the DIRE questionnaire) which are considered effective strategies for regulating emotions and associated with better health outcomes (Aldao et al ., 2010 ; Berking & Wupperman, 2012 ; Faustino et al ., 2020 ; Werner & Gross, 2010 ).…”

“…Difficulties in Interpersonal Emotion Regulation (DIRE). The DIRE (Dixon-Gordon et al ., 2018 ; Italian version: Messina et al ., 2022 , in press) is a scenario-based questionnaire composed of 21 items (7 items for each of 3 scenarios). After the description of each scenario (feeling upset about a time sensitive project that needs to be completed for school or work; fighting with a significant other; and thinking that friends have been avoiding you) individuals are asked to rate how distressed they would feel in that scenario on a Likert scale (ranging from 0=‘ not at all distressed ’ to 100=‘ extremely distressed ’ ).Then, individuals are asked to indicate on another Likert scale the likelihood that they would respond in each of the ways described in the items (from 1=‘ very unlikely’ to 5=‘ very likely ’).…”

“…Another questionnaire, the Difficulties in Interpersonal Emotion Regulation (DIRE; Dixon-Gordon et al ., 2018 ), has been developed to evaluate difficulties in IER that may be relevant for psychopathology. Based on previous theories and research, the authors identified two factors of IER: Reassurance-Seek (item example: ‘keep asking for reassurance’) and Vent (item example: ‘raising voice or complaining’), which are both negatively associated with mental health (Messina et al ., 2022 , in press). When attempting to elucidate the nature of IER, however, the theory-based nature of such instruments may represent a limitation because available theoretical contributions are based more on hypotheses than on empirical evidence.…”

Attachment orientations and emotion regulation: new insights from the study of interpersonal emotion regulation strategies

“…Subsequent contributions, instead, have observed negative consequences of IER in perpetuating psychopathological symptoms, such as exaggerated dependency on others to regulate one’s own emotions (Hoffman, 2014). Moreover, previous studies have observed that interpersonal emotion regulation is associated with self-reported psychopathology (Messina et al ., 2022a ; Messina et al ., 2022b ; Dixon-Gordon et al ., 2018 ; Messina et al ., 2023a ). The results of the present study, and more generally the consideration of the attachment theory perspective, conciliate these views affirming that both exaggerate dependency on others to regulate emotions and the pseudo-autonomy of avoidant individuals may lead to emotional disorders.…”

“…The DIRE (Dixon-Gordon et al ., 2018 ; Italian version: Messina et al ., 2022a ) evaluates clinically relevant difficulties in interpersonal emotion regulation. The DIRE is a scenariobased measure, in which participants are invited to score the likelihood that in each scenario they would respond in ways described in each of the 21 items.…”