Portuguese Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Brief Scale of Mood Regulation Through Music (B-MMR) with Students

Abstract

Music plays a significant role in mood regulation, influencing emotional states, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. However, validated instruments to assess the use of music as a mood-regulation strategy are limited. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Brief Music in Mood Regulation Scale (B-MMR), a 21-item self-report measure, for use in Portuguese. Data were collected from 493 Portuguese students in an online survey. Participants completed the B-MMR alongside the Basic Emotions Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses, reliability assessments, measurement invariance testing, and external validity analyses were conducted to evaluate the scale’s psychometric properties. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original seven-factor structure, with three items per factor, with acceptable global fit indices. The Portuguese version showed satisfactory reliability. Invariance analyses revealed equivalence of the factor structure, loadings, and intercepts across sex groups, supporting meaningful comparisons of scores between men and women. Correlations between B-MMR dimensions and basic emotions were small to moderate and are interpreted as preliminary and indirect indicators of external validity, as they index emotional experiences rather than regulatory processes. Findings suggest that the Portuguese B-MMR is a promising tool for research on music-based mood regulation in student populations. A comprehensive validation across more diverse and clinical samples, using established emotion regulation measures, is needed before clinical or applied use.