Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Department of psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
2
Department of psychology, Faculty of education and psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan. Iran
3
Department of Organizational Industrial Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
4
Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
5
School of Psychology and Counselling, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD, Australia.
10.22038/jfmh.2025.84805.3195
Abstract
Introduction: Difficulties in emotional processing are frequently observed in individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and are linked to the severity of their symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of a researcher-developed instrument ,Emotional Processing Questionnaire (EPQ) to assess emotional impairments in this population.
Material and Method: A descriptive-correlational design was used in two phases among non-clinical individuals (n=278) and IBS patients (n=305) in Iran. In the first phase, the Persian version of the EPQ was tested for content validity, factor structure, and reliability in a healthy sample. In the second phase, the questionnaire, along with the BSI-18, was administered to IBS patients, and confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity, and reliability were assessed.
Results: Results supported strong content validity (CVR=78–92%, CVI=82–94%) and revealed four factors: emotional experience and expression, awareness and differentiation, tolerance, and communication and regulation. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed this structure (GFI=0.9). Disrupted emotional processing significantly predicted somatization, depression, and anxiety (all p<0.001). Emotional tolerance predicted all three symptoms, while emotional experience and expression predicted only depression. The scale showed excellent reliability (α=0.921, CR=0.943, split-half=0.871).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the EPQ is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing emotional processing in IBS patients and can help identify specific emotional deficits relevant to psychosomatic symptoms.
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