The Italian version of the State Emotion Regulation Inventory-Short Form (IT-SERI-SF) and the assessment of its measurement invariance across groups and situations

Emotion regulation (ER) plays a crucial role in mental and social well-being. This study aims to develop an Italian version of the State Emotion Regulation Inventory (SERI) and to assess its invariance across gender, age, and different testing situations, including students facing exams or dealing with someone suffering, and healthcare professionals interacting with distressed patients. Analyzing data from a sample of 737 respondents, a 12-item version of the scale was developed, demonstrating strong reliability and structural validity. Full metric and scalar invariance were established across genders and age groups, while partial scalar invariance was established across situational groups. The study contributes to the literature by providing a lacking Italian situational ER assessment tool and offering insights into its applicability in diverse contexts.