Exploring the mediator role of self-critical rumination between emotion regulation and psychopathology: A validation study of the Self-Critical Rumination Scale (SCRS) in a Spanish-speaking sample

Abstract Self-critical rumination is a negative and repetitive self-thinking process related to different disorders and negative psychological outcomes such as emotion dysregulation. The objectives of this study are twofold: (a) to examine the factor structure of the Spanish version of the Self-Critical Rumination Scale (SCRS), providing further evidence on its construct validity, and (b), to explore the mediator role of self-critical rumination between emotion dysregulation and psychopathology. A sample of 431 Spanish participants were recruited and completed online questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis, mediation analysis, and Pearson's correlations were conducted. A single factor structure was confirmed, and the SCRS showed good psychometric properties (Cronbach's alpha was 0.911). Significant correlations were found between the SCRS and related constructs (self-criticism, self-compassion, difficulties in emotion regulation, and psychopathology). Mediation analysis indicated that self-critical rumination plays a mediator role between emotion dysregulation and psychopathology. These results provide further evidence of the construct validity of the SCRS and extend our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the relationship between emotion dysregulation and psychopathology. These findings have key clinical implications suggesting that ruminative self-criticism could be potentially considered a transdiagnostic factor and a relevant target in the therapeutic process.