Multitrait–multimethod matrix validation of the Negative Mood Regulation Scale

A multitrait–multimethod matrix tested the validity of the Negative Mood Regulation (NMR) Scale. Participants were 74 first-semester freshmen and transfer college students who completed the NMR Scale and measures of adaptation to college, depression and loneliness. A parent, roommate or friend also rated each participant on these four variables. Thus, all four constructs were assessed by self-report and other-ratings. The NMR Scale satisfied three of four criteria of validity. Its monotrait–heteromethod correlation was significant, and this value was higher than its heterotrait–heteromethod and total heterotrait values. Additionally, regressions that controlled shared method variance yielded significant heteromethod associations between the NMR Scale and its corresponding other-rating. These results add to the nomological net for the NMR construct.