Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Emotion regulation patterns across 6 dimensions
Do you sometimes feel like your emotions get the better of you? The DERS assesses six dimensions of emotion regulation difficulties. 36 items, about 10 minutes.
What Does "Difficulty Regulating Emotions" Mean?
Everyone gets overwhelmed by emotions sometimes. The difference is in how quickly you bounce back — or whether you bounce back at all.
The DERS looks at six areas where emotion regulation can break down:
- Nonacceptance — feeling ashamed or angry about having negative emotions
- Goals — not being able to focus on things when emotions hit
- Impulse — acting without thinking when feelings are intense
- Awareness — not really paying attention to what you feel
- Strategies — feeling like nothing you do will help
- Clarity — knowing you feel "off" but not what emotion it is
36 items, about 10 minutes. Higher scores mean more difficulty in that area.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 36 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Dimension breakdown — separate scores for each sub-scale
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.