Revision and validation of the Japanese-version cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire: psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender

The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) is a self-report scale measuring the use of nine types of cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The present study aimed to develop a revised version of the Japanese translated CERQ (CERQ-RJ). Specifically, we revised translations of the original Japanese version CERQ (CERQ-J), and examined its psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender. We conducted two surveys 8 weeks apart; participants were recruited from a single Internet survey company in Japan. Results indicated that the CERQ-RJ showed better fit for the predicted nine-factor model than the CERQ-J, and acceptable reliability and validity; it also showed acceptable fit for both gender groups. Results also revealed scalar invariance of the CERQ-RJ across gender groups. Lastly, most strategies showed predicted associations with mental health outcomes in concurrent analyses. The newly translated scale may prove useful in future examinations of emotion regulation among Japanese participants.