Self-Regulation of Withholding Negative Emotions (SRWNE) Questionnaire

Abstract

The Self-Regulation of Withholding Negative Emotions (SRWNE) Questionnaire is a 28-item psychometric scale developed to assess the motivational reasons underlying an individual’s decision to suppress or refrain from expressing negative emotions. Rooted in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the instrument distinguishes between four types of motivational regulation—External, Introjected, Identified, and Integrated—as they apply specifically to the domain of emotional expression and control. The SRWNE provides researchers with a tool to understand whether emotional withholding is driven by controlled processes (e.g., external pressure or internal guilt) or autonomous processes (e.g., personal values or integrated self-coherence).

Keywords

Self-regulation, emotional control, negative emotions, Self-Determination Theory, intrinsic motivation, introjected regulation, external regulation, identified regulation, integrated regulation, emotion suppression.

Authors

Kim, Y., Deci, E. L., Zuckerman, M.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the SRWNE Questionnaire is to operationalize and measure the varying degrees of autonomy related to the behavioral choice of suppressing or withholding negative emotions. Unlike measures that simply assess the frequency of emotional suppression, the SRWNE focuses on the motivational quality—the “why”—behind this self-regulatory behavior, offering a nuanced perspective on emotional control.

By applying the principles of the SDT continuum of motivation, the scale allows researchers and clinicians to distinguish between adaptive, autonomous forms of emotion regulation (such as identified and integrated regulation) and potentially maladaptive, controlled forms (such as external and introjected regulation). This differentiation is critical for understanding the psychological consequences associated with different styles of emotional self-management.

Construct

The SRWNE measures the self-regulation of emotion based on the concept of internalization, a central tenet of Self-Determination Theory. The scale identifies four distinct regulatory styles that influence the decision to withhold negative emotions:

• External Regulation (ER): Withholding emotions due to external rewards or threats, such as fear of social rejection or upsetting others. This is the least autonomous form of regulation.
• Introjected Regulation (JR): Withholding emotions due to internal pressures, such as guilt, shame, or the desire to maintain contingent self-esteem. This style represents regulation that is partially internalized but still controlled.
• Identified Regulation (DR): Withholding emotions because the individual consciously values the outcome or goal achieved by the behavior (e.g., believing it is important not to burden others). This is a more autonomous form of regulation.
• Integrated Regulation (TR): Withholding emotions because the behavior is fully assimilated into the individual’s sense of self and core values, reflecting emotional stability and integrated goal achievement. This is the most autonomous form.

Validity

Initial validation studies established the strong construct validity of the SRWNE by confirming its hypothesized four-factor structure through factor analysis, demonstrating clear differentiation among the four regulatory styles. The scale’s validity is supported by its capacity to predict relevant psychological outcomes based on the autonomy continuum.

Autonomous forms of regulation (Integrated and Identified) are typically associated with measures of psychological well-being, better relationship quality, and adaptive coping mechanisms. Conversely, controlled forms (External and Introjected) often correlate positively with indicators of psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, thereby confirming the theoretical grounding of the instrument.

Reliability

The SRWNE Questionnaire demonstrates strong internal consistency across all four subscales. Reported Cronbach’s alpha coefficients in the original validation study generally ranged from approximately .75 to .85, indicating acceptable to good reliability for research purposes. This suggests that the items within each subscale reliably measure their respective motivational constructs.

Furthermore, test-retest reliability, assessed over appropriate time intervals, confirmed the stability of the motivational profiles measured by the instrument. This stability is particularly important for the more internalized and trait-like forms of regulation (Identified and Integrated), ensuring that the scale measures enduring motivational orientations rather than transient emotional states.

Factor Analysis

The development of the SRWNE relied on both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to rigorously test its theoretical structure. These analyses confirmed a robust four-factor solution, corresponding precisely to the motivational regulations defined by SDT: External, Introjected, Identified, and Integrated.

The results supported a model where the factors, while distinct, were appropriately intercorrelated, reflecting the theoretical nature of internalization as a continuum. This statistical confirmation established the SRWNE as a structurally sound and valid measure for assessing the quality of motivation underlying emotional control behavior.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire

Format: 28 items scored on a 7-point Likert scale (1=Strongly Disagree, 4=Neutral, 7=Strongly Agree)

Language Available: English (Original validation)

Population Group: General population, primarily adolescents and adults

Age Group: Typically 16 years and older (College samples were primarily used in initial validation)

Population Details: Originally validated using samples of college students. The scale is suitable for research involving motivational profiles related to interpersonal and emotional functioning across various adult populations.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate their level of agreement with statements describing the reasons for their emotional withholding behavior based on two primary stems: “The reason I do not express my negative emotions to other people is because:” and “Sometimes when I am upset, I act like everything is all right, because:”.

Keywords

Psychological measurement, emotional competence, motivation, internalization, controlled motivation, autonomous motivation, self-control, psychological scale.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence details available via the original publication in Educational and Psychological Measurement.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The SRWNE Questionnaire was developed and published in 2002. The authors, Kim, Deci, and Zuckerman, are affiliated with the body of work surrounding Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Use of the scale for non-commercial academic research often follows standard permissions policies associated with SDT instruments, typically requiring proper citation of the original source.

The original paper, which includes the instrument and scoring details on pages 332-333, is available online. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.selfdeterminationtheory.org/SDT/documents/2002_KimDeciZuckerman.pdf

Reference’s

• Kim, Y, Deci, E. L., & Zuckerman, M. (2002). The development of the self-regulation of withholding negative emotions questionnaire. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 62, 316-336.

Items of the Self-Regulation of Withholding Negative Emotions (SRWNE) Questionnaire

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The reason I do not express my negative emotions to other people is because:

1. I think others would be upset with me, if I expressed these feelings. (ER)
2. I would feel guilty if I let my bad feelings come out. (JR)
3. I find it personally satisfying to be able to feel my emotions without letting them be disruptive. (TR)
4. Expressing negative emotions would just hurt others, and a person shouldn’t do that. (JR)
5. There are some situations where it is useful to express my feelings and others where it’s not. (DR)
6. I would feel like a bad person if I expressed my bad feelings to my friends. (JR)
7. My parents and friends expect me to control myself. (ER)
8. I enjoy being aware of my feelings but I also find it satisfying to maintain a positive outward appearance. (TR)
9. It is important to me personally not to be hurtful to others. (DR)
10. I don’t think I have the right to bother other people with my negative feelings. (JR)
11. As a caring person, I do not want to upset others with my negative feelings. (DR)
12. I’m afraid that people wouldn’t like me if I express my feelings. (ER)
13. It is important to be aware of my negative feelings, but if I keep them to myself it is to maintain emotional stability. (DR)

Sometimes when I am upset, I act like everything is all right, because:

14. I’d be ashamed of myself if I let my bad feelings come out. (JR)
15. The important thing is to understand my own upset, but it may not be useful to tell others about it. (DR)
16. I think it could ruin my relationships if I am always talking about what bothers me. (ER)
17. It is important to me not to burden others with my problems. (DR)
18. It is gratifying to be able to keep my upset from interfering with my goals. (TR)
19. I want others to think I’m mature. (ER)
20. It is an interesting challenge to remain calm and not always be getting upset. (TR)
21. I would be embarrassed if I let others see what was bothering me. (JR)
22. I feel that it is mature to maintain a positive attitude. (DR)
23. It is fulfilling to be able to achieve my goals even when I am upset. (TR)
24. I believe people should keep their upset to themselves. (JR)
25. I’m afraid people won’t like me if I let on what is wrong. (ER)
26. I choose to keep my bad feelings to myself so I can accomplish important projects. (DR)
27. I think I have to follow the social norms. (ER)
28. I want others to think I’m a good person. (JR)

Scoring Key:

• ER = external regulation items: 1, 7, 12, 16, 19, 25, and 27
• JR = introjected regulation items: 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 21, 24, and 28
• DR = identified regulation items: 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 22, and 26
• TR = integrated regulation items: 3, 8, 18, 20, and 23