Regulatory emotional self-efficacy in managing negative emotions at work: a validation study

Study 1: Development and Validation of the Revised RESE: In this study, we investigated the psychometric properties of a six-item RESE scale revised for use in the work context (RESE-W). This scale pertains to Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE), specifically targeting individuals' perceived ability to manage negative emotions within a professional context. For the purpose of validating this questionnaire, through a sample of 1735 Italian adults (63.3% male), we evaluated three distinct factorial models and contextually conducted tests for gender invariance. The results confirmed a bifactorial structure comprised of one general and two specific dimensions across the six scale items. Scalar invariance was achieved, providing robust support for the instrument's validity. Study 2: RESE-W and Emotion Dynamics: In this Study, we investigated the relations of the RESE-W with mood dynamics at work by estimating its associations with emotional variability, inertia, granularity, and baseline levels. The aim of this study is to analyse the generalizability of the Revised Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy (RESE-W) scale through its correlation with longitudinal emotion-related dimensions, which provides more objective and reliable assessments of individual change than cross-sectional self-reports. Results confirmed the relation between RESE-W and key mood dynamics indices, underscoring the importance of these beliefs in understanding temporal emotional processes at work. These findings align with established research linking emotional dynamics to workplace adjustment and well-being. Study 3: Validity of the RESE-W Scale: In this study (N = 294), we tested the convergent and external validity of the Revised Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy scale (RESE-W). To this end, we examined its associations with established measures of emotion regulation, effortful control, and emotional intelligence, and assessed whether it predicts perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, and positive/negative affect beyond these constructs. Results showed that RESE-W was strongly correlated with other self-regulatory measures and uniquely predicted work-related well-being outcomes. Unlike competence-based emotion regulation scales, RESE-W appears to capture individuals’ perceived ability to regulate negative emotions, supporting its theoretical distinctiveness.