Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
Also known as: ERQ
The ERQ is a 10-item self-report measure assessing two primary emotion regulation strategies: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Developed by Gross and John in 2003, it has become a foundational instrument in emotion regulation research, widely used across clinical, developmental, and social psychology.
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When to use it
Primary use: research assessing emotion regulation strategies and their associations with mental health outcomes. Clinical assessment of patients with mood, anxiety, or relationship difficulties; those with high expressive suppression may benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy emphasizing cognitive reappraisal skills. Useful in longitudinal studies tracking emotion regulation trajectories and intervention efficacy. Not designed to diagnose specific disorders but provides dimensional measurement of regulation strategies.
Strengths & limitations
- Brevity and parsimony: only 10 items captures two distinct, theoretically grounded constructs
- Strong theoretical foundation: items directly operationalize emotion regulation framework distinguishing antecedent-focused (reappraisal) from response-focused (suppression) strategies
- Validated across diverse populations: extensive cross-cultural adaptation with language versions in 20+ languages showing consistent factor structure
- Robust psychometric properties: internal consistency α=0.79 (reappraisal), α=0.73 (suppression); two-factor structure confirmed in multiple independent samples
- Clinically meaningful subscales: differential associations with well-being outcomes allow targeted clinical intervention
- Limited scope: captures only two of many possible emotion regulation strategies (missing acceptance, mindfulness, problem-solving, social support)
- Trait measurement: assesses typical strategy use, not situational or emotion-specific regulation capacity
- Response bias vulnerability: desirability effects may inflate reappraisal, deflate suppression self-reports in some samples
- Modest predictive validity for clinical outcomes: strategy use alone does not fully explain emotional distress; context and frequency matter significantly
- Cultural variation: factor structure and meaning of reappraisal vs. suppression varies across individualist–collectivist cultures
Frequently asked
Can the ERQ identify people who need emotion regulation treatment?
The ERQ identifies preferred emotion regulation strategies but does not diagnose disorders. High suppression or low reappraisal may suggest targets for intervention, but clinical judgment using diagnostic interviews and other measures is essential. ERQ scores should be integrated with symptom severity, impairment, and comorbidity assessment.
What is the typical score difference between clinical and non-clinical samples?
Clinical samples (depression, anxiety, PTSD) typically show lower reappraisal (M≈4.2–4.5) and higher suppression (M≈4.0–4.3) compared to non-clinical controls (reappraisal M≈4.8–5.0, suppression M≈3.5–3.7). Effect sizes range d=0.5–1.0 depending on disorder and sample severity.
Should reappraisal and suppression be combined into a single regulation score?
No. These are conceptually and empirically distinct strategies with opposite correlates. Reappraisal and suppression should be analyzed and interpreted separately. Some research examines ratio scores (reappraisal/suppression) to identify regulatory profile, but two-subscale interpretation is standard.
Can the ERQ be used in adolescents or is it only for adults?
The ERQ was developed for adults (college students) but has been successfully used in adolescents 14+. For younger samples, reading level and comprehension should be verified. Alternative developmental measures (e.g., Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Adolescents) may be more appropriate for children <14.
Is there copyright or licensing cost for using the ERQ?
No. The ERQ is freely available for research and clinical use in the public domain. It may be reproduced without permission for non-commercial purposes. Cite the original Gross & John (2003) publication in research.
Sources
- Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(2), 348–362. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/clinical-psychology/emotion-regulation-questionnaire
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