Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)

A standardized self-report questionnaire for assessing how people recognize, accept, and manage their emotions across different life situations

From feeling overwhelmed to learning mindful emotion regulation
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Brief overview of the DERS Overview

The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) helps identify which aspects of emotion regulation are most challenging for a person— from noticing and understanding feelings, to accepting them, controlling impulses, and using adaptive strategies.

It is widely used in clinical, counseling, and research settings and provides a broad picture of how someone responds when experiencing intense emotions such as anger, shame, sadness, or fear.

What is the DERS? What is DERS?

The DERS is a self-report questionnaire that assesses several key dimensions of emotion regulation. There are different versions, but all of them focus on the central question:

“When I experience intense emotions, how well can I notice, tolerate, and respond to them in ways that fit my values?”

  • Instrument type: multidimensional emotion-regulation questionnaire
  • Main focus: difficulties in accepting, controlling, and managing emotions
  • Uses: individual therapy, group programs, research, and self-understanding

What does the DERS measure and who is it for? Domains & Target Group

Depending on the version, the DERS covers several domains. Common areas include:

  • Difficulties with emotional awareness – not noticing or not being able to name feelings.
  • Difficulties with emotional acceptance – shame, self-blame, or trying to escape from unpleasant emotions.
  • Difficulties with impulse control – acting rashly when feeling angry, sad, or anxious.
  • Difficulties with access to regulation strategies – the sense of “I don’t know what to do with this feeling.”
  • Difficulties with goal-directed behavior when emotions are intense—losing focus and clarity about priorities.

The scale is suitable for older adolescents and adults, for people seeking therapy, and for anyone who wants a clearer picture of their emotional patterns.

Domain: emotion regulation & resilience Target group: older teens & adults Uses: therapy, counseling, research

Applications of the DERS Applications

DERS results can be used in many contexts:

  • Emotion-focused treatments such as DBT, ACT, CBT, and mindfulness-based therapies.
  • Understanding the role of emotion regulation in conditions like depression, anxiety, personality disorders, substance use, and more.
  • Research on the links between emotion regulation and quality of life, relationships, and physical health.
  • Self-exploration: identifying “which parts of emotion regulation I most need to work on.”
Screening emotion-regulation difficulties Designing emotion-focused interventions Widely used in research

How is the DERS administered? Administration

The DERS consists of statements describing how people experience and manage their emotions. You indicate how often each statement applies to you.

  • Item content: reactions to emotions, tolerance, impulse control, and regulation strategies.
  • Response format: multi-point scale (for example, from “almost never” to “almost always”).
  • Administration: self-report, available in paper-and-pencil or online formats.
  • Estimated time: around 10–15 minutes, depending on the version.
Total DERS score
Overall level of emotion-regulation difficulties
Subscale scores
Identifying specific problem areas
Use of scores
Guiding treatment planning and practice

Before you complete the DERS Before You Start

  • Think about your general experience over the past few months, especially when your emotions were more intense.
  • Don’t ask “How should I feel?”—instead ask “What usually happens for me in real life?”
  • If you are unsure between two options, choose the one that fits you most of the time.
  • Remember: higher scores do not mean you are “weak”; they only show where you might benefit from more practice and support.
  • If completing the scale brings up difficult memories or feelings, consider discussing them with a mental-health professional.

Interpreting DERS scores Interpretation

In general, higher DERS scores indicate greater difficulties in emotion regulation. People with higher scores are more likely to report feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or impulsive when emotions are intense.

In professional interpretation, both the total score and the pattern of subscales are considered. For example, someone may be relatively strong in emotional awareness but struggle more with acceptance or impulse control.

  • A high score does not automatically mean a “disorder”, but it can signal a need for skills training in emotion regulation.
  • Lower scores usually reflect greater flexibility and effectiveness in dealing with difficult feelings.
  • The most helpful way to use results is to discuss them with a clinician and develop targeted exercises for each domain.

It is best to treat DERS results as a map for emotional learning and growth, not as a fixed label about your personality.

The DERS emotion-regulation map Emotion Regulation Map

You can think of emotion-regulation difficulties along several axes, which the DERS is designed to capture:

Emotional awareness – noticing and labeling feelings
Emotional acceptance – staying with feelings without shame or escape
Impulse control – acting wisely when emotions are high

Frequently asked questions about the DERS FAQ

No. A high score simply shows that intense emotions are particularly challenging for you. This is influenced by many factors—childhood experiences, current stress, and the skills you have learned so far. Like any other skill, emotion regulation can be trained and improved.

No. The DERS is a measurement tool for emotion regulation, not a complete diagnostic instrument. Any diagnosis requires a full assessment by a psychologist or psychiatrist, including interviews, observations, and sometimes other tests.

Yes. Treatments and skills programs focused on emotion regulation, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment, and CBT are specifically designed to strengthen these abilities. Many people show lower DERS scores and greater confidence in handling emotions as therapy progresses.

No. Many people without a clinical diagnosis still struggle with certain aspects of emotion regulation— such as anger control, tolerating anxiety, or managing sadness. The test can be useful for self-understanding and prevention as well as for clinical work.

Consider speaking with a psychologist or therapist, reviewing your scores together, and creating a plan for building emotion-regulation skills—such as breathing exercises, mindfulness practice, cognitive restructuring, and behavior-regulation strategies.

Start the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) Take the Test

If you want to discover which areas of emotion regulation you most need to strengthen and how you can build a healthier relationship with your feelings, you can complete the DERS and obtain a clearer picture of your emotional patterns.

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