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Objective: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-18 (DERS-18) is an instrument used to measure deficits in emotion regulation. However, the instrument has not been adapted to Malaysians and has never been validated in the Malay language. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Malay version of DERS-18. Method: The DERS-18 underwent forward-backward translation and assessment of face and content validity. Both Malay version of the DERS-18 and DASS-21 were completed by 701 adolescents (44.4% boys) aged 13 and 14 years old. To assess its dependability, a floor and ceiling effect evaluation and Cronbach's analysis were both performed. A series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), bivariate correlation, and regression were performed to evaluate the construct and criterion validity, respectively. Results: The Malay version of DERS-18, after excluding "Awareness", indicated excellent reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.93), and acceptable internal consistency for each subscale (range of α from 0.63 to 0.82). Floor or ceiling effects were observed at item level and subscale level, but not at total level. CFA results revealed that the Malay version of the DERS-18 bifactor model (excluding "Awareness") portrayed the best construct validity (χ2/df = 2.673, RMSEA = 0.049, CFI = 0.977, TLI = 0.968) compared to a single factor, a correlated factor, and a higher-order factor model. The DERS-18 subscales (except "Awareness") and DERS-18 total scores were significantly correlated with stress, anxiety, and depression in a positive direction (r ranged from 0.62 to 0.64, p < 0.01). The general factor of the DERS-18 and its specific factors ("Clarity", "Goals", and "Non-Acceptance") significantly predicted the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression (R2 ranged from 0.44 to 0.46, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Malay version of the DERS-18, excluding "Awareness", possessed good reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity to assess emotion dysregulation among Malaysian adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intricate dynamics of gender roles significantly shape emotion regulation (ER) among adolescents, underscoring the importance of understanding these assigned roles in comprehending adolescents' emotional experiences. This study aimed to investigate and analyze in detail the central aspects of disparities between genders in the utilization of ER strategies. The formulation of the hypotheses aimed to predict significant distinctions between boys and girls, particularly in cognitive reappraisal (CR) and expressive suppression (ES) strategies. A cross-sectional design was employed and implemented in 27 public secondary schools across 12 states in Malaysia. A total of 1,718 adolescents, both boys and girls who did not have any current or prior clinical issues became participants in this study. Using the Malay version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (ERQ-CA), the study's findings contradicted the proposed hypotheses. The findings showed no gender disparities in CR and ES. These findings provide valuable insights for parents, caregivers, teachers, and adolescents, offering a nuanced understanding of ER during the critical stages of adolescence. The implications of ER across genders may guide the development of targeted interventions to address potential gender disparities and mitigate the risk of psychopathological issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents are important figures in shaping an adolescent's emotion regulation. However, there have been fewer studies investigating the effects of parental care and parental autonomy on adolescents' emotion regulation, and the findings from the existing research have been inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the effects of parental care and autonomy (from both the father and mother) on adolescents' emotion dysregulation. The Malay versions of Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-18 (DERS-18) were administered to 491 students between the ages of 13 and 14 years old. The students were recruited from public schools in Peninsular Malaysia by using a non-proportionate random stratified sampling technique. This study employed the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with regression analysis. The results showed a significant negative effect of paternal and maternal care on adolescent's emotion dysregulation. There is no significant effect of paternal and maternal autonomy on the adolescent's emotion dysregulation. This study concludes that both fathers and mothers who care for and provide warmth to their children would promote better emotion regulation. The current findings highlight intervention and prevention efforts in promoting parental care and warmth in our children upbringing particularly involving adolescents. These will foster positive impact in the adolescents' abilities to regulate their emotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]