Cultural redevelopment and validation of the emotion regulation goals scale – culturally redeveloped version (ERGS-CRV): evidence from Iran

Emotion regulation goals (ERGs) represent an important yet understudied aspect of self-regulation, particularly in non-Western cultural contexts. Existing measures primarily focus on emotion-regulation strategies, and culturally appropriate instruments for assessing ERGs remain limited. The present study aimed to culturally redevelop and validate the Emotion Regulation Goals Scale – Culturally Redeveloped Version (ERGS-CRV) for use in an Iranian population. A total of 1,475 Iranian adults (67.9% women; M = 29.86, SD = 10.24; age 18–71) completed the ERGS-CRV. The validation process included exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using split-sample cross-validation, reliability assessment, convergent and discriminant validity analyses, test–retest reliability, and measurement invariance testing across gender groups. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a five-factor structure consisting of Pro-Hedonic, Contra-Hedonic, Performance, Pro-Social, and Impression Management dimensions. Reliability estimates ranged from 0.54 to 0.91 across subscales, with stronger internal consistency observed for the Performance, Pro-Social, and Impression Management dimensions. Evidence of convergent validity was strongest for the Pro-Social and Impression Management dimensions, acceptable for the Performance dimension, and comparatively weaker for the Pro-Hedonic and Contra-Hedonic dimensions. Discriminant validity was confirmed using both the Fornell–Larcker criterion and the heterotrait–monotrait ratio of correlations (HTMT). Test–retest coefficients indicated good to excellent temporal stability. Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses supported configural, metric, scalar, and strict measurement invariance across gender groups. The ERGS-CRV provides a culturally informed measure of emotion-regulation goals in Iranian adults, with stronger psychometric support for the Pro-Social and Impression Management dimensions, acceptable support for the Performance dimension, and comparatively weaker support for the Pro-Hedonic and Contra-Hedonic dimensions. The findings support its use for research on emotion-regulation motives in Persian-speaking and potentially other non-Western populations.