Assessment of the Emotional Reactivity Through the Positive and Negative Emotions: The Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale

Emotional reactivity is a key construct for understanding psychopathology. Examining the psychometric properties of the instruments in societies with different cultures can help with their external validity.

The current study aimed at standardization and validation of the Perth emotional reactivity scale (PERS) in Iranian university students.

The Persian version of the PERS was produced through forward translation, reconciliation, and back-translation. A total of 302 (169 males and 133 females) nonclinical students were selected by convenience sampling method, and completed a set of questionnaires, including the PERS, weight efficacy lifestyle questionnaire-short form (WEL-SF), eating attitude test-16 (EAT-16), selfesteem scale (SES), difficulties in emotion regulation scale-16 (DERS-16), and self-compassion scale (SCS) short-form. The construct validity of the PERS was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis and divergent and convergent validity. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability (a 2-weeks interval) were used to evaluate the reliability. Data analysis was performed using LISREL (version 8.8) and SSPS (version 22) software.

All PERS scales and subscales were found with good internal consistency and test-retest reliability in a nonclinical population. The convergent validity and divergent validity were also found good. The results of this study provides the support for the applicability of the six-factor (RMSEA = 0.06, NFI = 0.94, NNFI = 0.96, and CFI = 0.97) and two-factor (RMSEA = 0.07, NFI = 0.94, NNFI = 0.96, and CFI = 0.96) models of the PERS.

The PERS showed good validity and reliability and can be useful in assessing emotional reactivity in the Iranian population. The PERS can be promising as a measure to use in emotional-based studies and clinical settings.