Application of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in Chinese Community Elderly

Background: The present study investigated the applicability of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) in the Chinese community elderly and explored the influence of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on late-life depression. Methods: A total of 367 community elderly aged 60-94 were deemed eligible and completed CERQ, the Perceived Stress Scale-10, the Geriatric Depression Questionnaire-15, and the State Anxiety Inventory. Confirmatory factor analysis was adopted to verify the 9-factor structure of CERQ. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, omega coefficient and split-half reliability were used to test the internal consistency of CERQ. Pearson correlations among scores of CERQ and other scales were calculated to examine its convergent validity. In addition, a structural equation model was used to further examine the effect of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the association between perceived stress and late-life depression. Results: All the fitting indexes of CERQ's 9-factor model met the criterion (chi 2/df= 2.26, CFI= 0.916, TLI= 0.904, RMSEA= 0.052). For the total score of CERQ, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and omega coefficient were both 0.90, and the split-half reliability was 0.74. For the nine subscales, the alpha coefficients ranged from 0.66 to 0.88, and the omega coefficients ranged from 0.69 to 0.88. Significant positive correlations were found between the maladaptive dimension of CERQ and other scales (all p < 0.001). The maladaptive emotion regulation strategies indirectly affected the effect of perceived stress on late-life depression (effect size was 21.57%). Conclusion: With good reliability and factor validity, the CERQ showed good applicability in the Chinese elderly population. The influence of perceived stress on depression in the elderly was mediated by maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.