Emotional intensity in therapy scale (EITS) : development of a multidimensional state-trait measure

Emotional intensity in therapy sessions is a concept that is undefined psychometrically, though it may be referred to in the basic training of therapy. Measurement of emotion and understanding its presentation through human experience is essential for informing the creation of treatments and interventions which are rooted in theory and empirically supported mechanisms of change (Burum & Goldfried, 2007). The current study developed and refined a scale to better understand the emotional intensity within a single therapy session based on the involvement of both the client and the clinician, while also considering the impact of trait differences in emotionality. There is currently no other measure that detects the experience of emotional intensity while also considering the impact of individual differences and the environment. Utilizing the process of scale development outlined by DeVellis (2013) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with responses from a sample of 405 participants, we observed the state and trait subscales each have good reliability and best fit a structure of four dimensions. These subscales explained 53% and 52% of the variance in state emotional intensity and individual propensity towards heightened emotional experiences, respectively. While four factors were extracted from both the state and the trait subscales, the items in these factors do not mirror each other. It was hypothesized that state and trait differences would be similarly explained by the mental, emotional, and physical dimensions. Rather, both were explained for four different factors that were closely related to mental, emotional, and physical changes, but not exactly the same. The Emotional Intensity in Therapy Scale (EITS) has the potential to assist in growing the research on the role of relational drivers and emotional experience in therapy and its impact on client outcomes.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology (UMKC)

Grantor

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Bierman Wetrich, Bethany Rose

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Marszalek, Jacob M.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/110207

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/110207