Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Revised Beliefs About Emotions Questionnaire

Objective

Given that there is an increasing exploration of the role of beliefs about emotions in emotion regulation and psychotherapy, there is a need for a range of valid and reliable measures of beliefs about emotions. The Beliefs About Emotions Questionnaire (BAEQ) has been shown to be a promising measure of beliefs about emotions. However, to date, no study has attempted to replicate the original factor structure of the BAEQ in an English-speaking country. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the BAEQ in a nonclinical sample.

Method

Archival data of 1807 adult participants residing in Australia was divided into three equal groups of participants. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted on the first sub-sample, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the second sub-sample, and a second CFA was performed on the third sub-sample. Divergent validity was tested using the heterotrait–monotrait ratio and the concurrent validity was tested through correlations with the subscales of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18).

Results

The first CFA failed to replicate the original factor structure of the BAEQ. An EFA supported five of the original six factors. A five-factor structure, including 30 out of the original 43 items, was confirmed in a second CFA. The final subscales (Shameful and Irrational, Overwhelming and Uncontrollable, Invalid and Meaningless, Useless and Damaging) demonstrated good construct validity, good internal consistency, and good concurrent and divergent validity.

Conclusion

The results from this study support a briefer five-factor, 30-item version of the BAEQ (BAEQ-R) as a reliable and valid measure of beliefs about emotions that can be utilised in future research.