The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Prediction of Posttraumatic Consequences during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chilean Adults.

The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is widely used to assess the use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression strategies to regulate negative emotions. The present study evaluates the psychometric properties, reliability and validity of a Chilean adaptation of the ERQ in a large sample of 1543 participants aged between 18 and 87 (38% male, 62% female). The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed the expected two-factor structure and factorial invariance in relation to gender. Results also indicated adequate internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent and predictive validity in predicting posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth six months after the first measurement in a subsample of students exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of reappraisal was positively associated with general well-being, whereas the use of suppression was positively associated with depressive symptomatology. In terms of posttraumatic consequences, the use of reappraisal was negatively associated with posttraumatic symptomatology and positively associated with posttraumatic growth six months later; in turn, suppression was positively associated with posttraumatic symptomatology and negatively associated with posttraumatic growth six months later. This study demonstrates that the ERQ is a valid and reliable instrument to measure emotional regulation strategies in Chilean adults.

Terapia sistémica breve en personas expuestas a un evento altamente estresante reciente: Un ensayo controlado aleatorizado / Brief systemic therapy in people exposed to a recent highly stressful event: A randomised controlled trial

Resumen: Antecedentes: Los eventos altamente estresantes pueden tener efectos nocivos en el bienestar y salud mental en las personas. Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de un protocolo de intervención preventiva basado en la Terapia Sistémica Breve orientado a personas que vivenciaron de manera reciente un evento altamente estresante. Método: Participaron 75 personas, 39 conformaron el grupo experimental y 36 el grupo control. Para el análisis de los datos se siguió un diseño cuantitativo con dos grupos (experimental y control) y con dos puntos temporales (pre y post-intervención). Al grupo experimental se añadió un seguimiento a los seis meses. El protocolo estuvo estructurado en cuatro sesiones y apuntaba a incidir sobre los síntomas postraumáticos, el crecimiento postraumático, la respuesta rumiativa y las estrategias de afrontamiento. Resultados: Se observó un aumento del crecimiento postraumático, de la rumiación deliberada, del afrontamiento centrado en el problema y de la reinterpretación positiva en el grupo experimental. En cambio, solo hubo una tendencia no significativa en la reducción de la sintomatología postraumática y en la búsqueda de apoyo social. Conclusiones: Estos resultados contribuyen al desarrollo de la Terapia Sistémica Breve y apoyan su utilidad en la intervención preventiva con personas expuestas a un evento altamente estresante.

Abstract: Background: Highly stressful events can have harmful effects on people's well-being and mental health. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a preventive intervention protocol based on Brief Systemic Therapy oriented to people who recently experienced a highly stressful event. Method: Seventy-five people participated, 39 were in the experimental group and 36 in the control group. A quantitative design with two groups (experimental and control) and two time points (pre- and post-intervention) was used for data analysis. A six-month follow-up was added to the experimental group. The protocol was structured in four sessions and aimed to impact on posttraumatic symptoms, posttraumatic growth, ruminative response and coping strategies. Results: An increase in posttraumatic growth, deliberate rumination, problem-focused coping, and positive reinterpretation was observed in the experimental group. In contrast, there was only a nonsignificant trend in reduced posttraumatic symptomatology and in seeking social support. Conclusions: These results contribute to the development of Brief Systemic Therapy and support its usefulness in preventive intervention with people exposed to a highly stressful event.

Evaluación de un protocolo de intervención en Terapia Sistémica Breve para personas expuestas a un evento estresante reciente / Evaluation of a Brief Systemic Therapy intervention protocol for people who have experienced a recent stressful event

Resumen Los eventos altamente estresantes son sucesos que potencialmente generan consecuencias negativas en las personas afectadas, como síntomas postraumáticos y depresivos. El presente estudio evalúa un protocolo de intervención preventiva, orientado a personas que han vivido un evento altamente estresante reciente, basado en la Terapia Sistémica Breve. Cuatro terapeutas aplicaron el protocolo a cuatro usuarias. Se entrevistó a estas ocho personas acerca de su experiencia en la aplicación y recepción del protocolo. Mediante escalas de fiabilidad y validez contrastada se evaluaron los cambios pre-post en sintomatología postraumática, sintomatología depresiva, crecimiento postraumático y satisfacción con la vida; también se midió la relación terapéutica. Los resultados muestran apreciaciones positivas en terapeutas y usuarias, el desarrollo de una relación terapéutica adecuada y avances en tres de los cuatro indicadores cuantitativos de cambio. Se concluye que el protocolo está en condiciones de utilizarse en estudios controlados.

Abstract Highly stressful events are occurrences that potentially create negative consequences for the affected people, such as post-traumatic and depressive symptoms. This study assesses a preventive intervention protocol, aimed to people who have lived a recent highly stressful event, based on the Brief Systemic Therapy. Four therapists applied the protocol to four female users. These eight persons were interviewed about the experience in relation to the application and reception of the protocol. Through contrasted reliability and validity scales, pre and post changes in posttraumatic symptomatology, depressive symptomatology, posttraumatic growth and satisfaction with life were assessed; the therapeutic relation was also measured. The results show positive appraisals in therapists and female users, the development of a proper therapeutic relation and progress in three out of four quantitative change indicators. It is concluded that the protocol is suitable to be used in controlled studies.