The Anticipated Regret Scale (ARS): Initial Validation of a Self-Report Measure of Proneness Toward Anticipated Regret

Anticipated regret represents expectations of experiencing regret due to action or inaction. Despite its relevance to negative affective states, such as worry, there remains no published multiitem self-report measure of general proneness toward anticipated regret. This study provides data on psychometric properties of the developed Anticipated Regret Scale (ARS). A sample of 811 respondents was used to examine structural validity, internal consistency, convergent validity, concurrent validity, and incremental concurrently validity. Using a split-sample of the total sample for an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), a 1-factor solution provided good fit to the data. The ARS evidenced good internal consistency, while correlating significantly more strongly with a measure of postdecisional regret and pessimism relative to positive affect. The ARS shared positive associations with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression symptom severity, while evidencing incremental concurrent validity in relation to GAD, but not depression, symptom severity. Predictive validity was examined in a subsample of the total sample (n = 175), with the ARS predicting regressed change in worry severity from baseline to post-provocation following a worry provocation that occurred, on average, 30 days after completion of the ARS. Study results provide initial support for the ARS.