Difficulties in interpersonal regulation of emotions (DIRE) questionnaire: psychometric properties of the Italian version and associations with psychopathological symptoms
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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.
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Interpersonal venting and excessive reassurance-seeking are considered maladaptive IER strategies that can lead to negative interpersonal outcomes such as rejection, conflicts, or abandonment.
“interpersonal venting and excessive reassurance-seeking are considered maladaptive IER strategies (Dixon-Gordon et al., 2018a; Messina et al., 2022), as they can lead to negative interpersonal outcomes, such as rejection, conflicts, or abandonment.”
From Risk and protective factors in academic burnout: exploring the mediating role of interpersonal emotion regulation in the link with social support (2025) · cites this paper as Messina et al., 2022
The Introduction identifies venting and reassurance-seeking as potentially maladaptive interpersonal emotion-regulation strategies. The Discussion says excessive reassurance-seeking may deteriorate relationships and venting is thought to reduce social support and increase isolation, but it does not specify rejection, conflicts, or abandonment as outcomes. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe Italian version of the DIRE had good internal consistencies for Vent (α = 0.76) and Reassurance-Seek (α = 0.87).
“In the validation study of the Italian version of the DIRE good internal consistencies have been reported for both the Vent (α = 76) and Reassurance- Seek (α = 0.87) subscales (Messina et al., 2022).”
From Risk and protective factors in academic burnout: exploring the mediating role of interpersonal emotion regulation in the link with social support (2025) · cites this paper as Messina et al., 2022
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Messina, I., Spataro, P., Grecucci, A., Marogna, C., & Dixon-Gordon, K. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Trento (IT)
- Mercatorum University (IT)
- University of Padua (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Messina, Irene
- Venue
- Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
- Published
- 2022-08-03
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1126-1134
- ISSN
- 0164-0305 (ISSN-L)
- 0882-2689
- 1573-3505
- PMC
- PMC9362436
- OpenAlex
- W4289545159
- Semantic Scholar
- 5268c9e20e424e1f6177f1a36e1b44c031972864
- Cited by
- 10
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 1.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Institutional Research Information System (Università degli Studi di Trento) (submittedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- emotion regulation, emotional dysregulation, psychopathology, Italian adaptation, questionnaire validation, factor structure, convergent validity, interpersonal factors, intrapersonal factors, SCL-90, psychometric properties
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