Conceptualization and Scale Development of Excessive Emotional Behaviors

Emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression, represent a major global health burden and are increasingly conceptualized within a transdiagnostic framework. Within this framework, emotional behaviors-defined as actions driven by attempts to regulate or control emotional experiences-are considered a central mechanism underlying the development and maintenance of emotional distress. Despite their theoretical importance in models such as the Unified Protocol (UP) and the Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED), there is currently no dedicated, psychometrically validated instrument specifically designed to assess excessive emotional behaviors. The present study aims to develop and validate a self-report scale of excessive emotional behaviors grounded in the theoretical frameworks of UP and MIED. Excessive emotional behaviors are conceptualized as behaviors whose frequency, intensity, or reliance exceeds adaptive levels in response to emotional experiences and contributes to functional impairment. A mixed-method design will be employed. Study 1 will involve semi-structured cognitive interviews with approximately 18 participants experiencing anxiety or depressive distress to evaluate item clarity, experiential relevance, and content coverage, and to refine the initial item pool. Study 2 will consist of a quantitative survey with a larger sample to examine the scale's psychometric properties, including factor structure, reliability, and validity. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) will be conducted to establish the underlying structure of the scale. Convergent and discriminant validity will be assessed through correlations with measures of experiential avoidance (AAQ-II, BEAQ), anxiety (GAD-7), and depression (PHQ-9). The expected outcome is a brief, reliable, and valid instrument that captures multiple dimensions of excessive emotional behaviors, such as behavioral avoidance, cognitive avoidance, safety behaviors, and emotion-driven actions. This scale will provide a theoretically grounded and clinically useful tool for transdiagnostic research, mechanism testing, and intervention evaluation in emotional disorders.

Inclusion Criteria: Aged 18 years or older Current or recent experience of significant anxiety or depressive distress Adequate ability to understand and communicate in Chinese Able and willing to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Acute psychotic episode or other severe psychiatric disorder that would interfere with study participation Cognitive impairment that would prevent effective participation in the study