Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale
DERS-36Permission: Free for research use. Free for non-commercial academic research, with no licence fee. Cite the original publication.
A 36-item measure of perceived difficulties across six dimensions of emotion regulation.
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Reliability & validation
Subscales
Response anchors
Almost never (0-10%) · Sometimes (11-35%) · About half the time (36-65%) · Most of the time (66-90%) · Almost always (91-100%)
Known limitations
Later studies have questioned the fit of the original six-factor model, especially the Awareness subscale. Higher scores indicate greater perceived difficulty, not a clinical diagnosis. Confirm reproduction terms before administration.
Original citation
Gratz, K. L., & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure, and initial validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26(1), 41-54.
https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000007455.08539.94Questions researchers ask
What does the DERS-36 measure?
A 36-item measure of perceived difficulties across six dimensions of emotion regulation.
How many items does the DERS-36 have?
The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-36) has 36 items across 6 subscales: Nonacceptance of Emotional Responses, Difficulties Engaging in Goal-Directed Behavior, Impulse Control Difficulties, Lack of Emotional Awareness, Limited Access to Emotion Regulation Strategies, Lack of Emotional Clarity.
Is the DERS-36 free to use?
The DERS-36 is free to use for non-commercial academic research. You don't need to pay a license fee, but you should always cite the original publication.
Is the DERS-36 reliable?
Validation studies report Cronbach's α of 0.93, test–retest reliability of 0.88. See the reliability section for the population studied and full statistics.
Who developed the DERS-36, and how do I cite it?
Gratz, K. L., & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure, and initial validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26(1), 41-54. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000007455.08539.94
Related scales
Library entry verified September 2026. Metadata is provided for reference; item wording is available inside Folio Surveyor, subject to each instrument's licensing.