Emotion Regulation Strategies During COVID-19 Measure

Description

The Emotion Regulation Strategies During COVID-19 Measure (Baldwin et al., 2025) was developed to assess the processes that underlie emotion regulation in daily life during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Development of the measure is based on two members of the author team (AO and ST) conducting a broad survey of the literature to identify potential strategies. These strategies were then discussed with other authors of the article and pruned to a list of 18 strategies that would be manageable to administer in the context of a daily diary study. The strategies included those typically studied with classic models of emotional regulation and those that target problem versus emotion-focused coping, as well as strategies studied within different areas of psychology. Data were collected from a combined sample of adults living in the Northeastern United States in the spring of 2020 and a nationally representative sample in early Fall 2020. Results concerning item agreement and validity were reported.

Purpose

The Emotion Regulation Strategies During COVID-19 Measure assesses emotional regulation strategies used related to anxiety in daily life during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Validity

The relationship between daily anxiety and using strategies rated as relatively healthier was largely the same across individuals, suggesting this measure captures general efficacy, across individuals and their contexts each day.

Reliability

Interrater Reliability: Agreement was substantial (intraclass correlation 2k = .96, 95% CI [0.93, 0.98]).

Factor Analysis

No data is Available

Test Methodology

The test methodology encompasses test validity, test reliability, and interrater reliability.

Population Details

• Age Group Reported: 21-77 Years

• Gender Identities Reported: Male; Female; Nonbinary Or Preferring Not to Respond

• Location: United States

• Respondents: Adults Living the the Northeastern U. S.; Nationally Representative Sample of Adults

Age Group

The measure is suitable for:

• Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

• Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs)

• Thirties (30-39 yrs)

• Middle Age (40-64 yrs)

• Aged (65 yrs & older)

Population Group

The target population group includes:

• Human

• Male

• Female

Test Type

Original

Instrument Type

Diary

Format

Participants indicated which strategies they used to reduce their COVID-19 anxiety on that day using a binary checklist such that endorsement of a given strategy was coded as 1 = yes and 0 = no.

Administration Method: Electronic

Test Items Available: Yes

Number of items: This is an 18-item measure.

Language Available

English

Language Present: English

Keywords

Anxiety; COVID-19 Pandemic; Emotion Management; Emotion Regulation Strategies; Everyday Life

Index Terms: Anxiety Management; Emotional Regulation; Physical Illness (Attitudes Toward); Stress and Coping Measures; Health Attitude Measures; Health Anxiety; Coping Style; COVID-19

Test Year

2025

Author

Baldwin, Chayce R.; Schertz, Kathryn E.; Orvell, Ariana; Costello, Cory; Takahashi, Sakura; Moser, Jason S.; Ayduk, Ozlem; Kross, Ethan

Author ocrid Identifier

Baldwin, Chayce R. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0685-1706

Affiliation

• Baldwin, Chayce R.: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan

• Schertz, Kathryn E.: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan

• Orvell, Ariana: Department of Psychology, Bryn Mawr College

• Costello, Cory: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan

• Takahashi, Sakura: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan

• Moser, Jason S.: Department of Psychology, Michigan State University

• Ayduk, Ozlem: Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley

• Kross, Ethan: Department of Psychology, University of Michigan

Email

• Baldwin, Chayce R.: [email protected]

• Schertz, Kathryn E.: [email protected]

• Orvell, Ariana: [email protected]

• Kross, Ethan: [email protected]

files

No file is Available

Permissions

May use for Research/Teaching

Fee

No

Commercial: No

Correspondence Address

Baldwin, Chayce R.: University of Michigan, Department of Psychology, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109, [email protected]

reference’s

Baldwin, C. R., Schertz, K. E., Orvell, A., Costello, C., Takahashi, S., Moser, J. S., Ayduk, O., & Kross, E. (2025). Managing emotions in everyday life: Why a toolbox of strategies matters. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001492

Items of the Emotion Regulation Strategies During COVID-19 Measure

Instructions: Please indicate how often you used each of the following strategies to manage your emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Use the scale below:

1 = Never
2 = Rarely
3 = Sometimes
4 = Often
5 = Very Often

1. I exercised.

2. I spent time outside.

3. I thought about how this situation is not going to last forever.

4. I interacted with people (via phone, video call, text message, in person).

5. I sought physical comfort from others (e.g., through a hug, holding hands).

6. I reflected on how I was feeling in writing.

7. I thought about the big picture.

8. I used mindfulness or meditation.

9. I tried to find a silver lining.

10. I engaged in a religious ritual (e.g., prayer) or family ritual (e.g., cooking or sharing a certain meal).

11. I talked to others about the situation to get their perspective or advice about issues surrounding the coronavirus.

12. I laughed it off or found humor in the situation.

13. I distracted myself by thinking about something else or doing another activity.

14. I vented to others by talking to them about my feelings surrounding the coronavirus.

15. I ate/drank to make myself feel better (excluding alcohol).

16. I drank alcohol to make myself feel better.

17. I tried to hide my anxiety by not showing or talking about how I was feeling.

18. I refused to let myself think about my anxiety.