This study introduces the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), a new instrument designed to measure nine cognitive coping strategies used by individuals after experiencing negative life events. The CERQ was developed based on a rational approach, distinguishing between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. The questionnaire was administered to 547 high school students, and its psychometric properties were evaluated using principal component analyses and test-retest reliability. The results showed that the CERQ items were effectively grouped into nine subscales, with alphas exceeding 0.80 for most subscales. The CERQ was found to be a reliable measure of cognitive coping strategies, with good test-retest reliability. The study also explored the relationships between the CERQ subscales and measures of depression and anxiety. The findings indicated that the use of cognitive coping strategies was positively correlated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, but the relationship was moderated by the adaptive nature of the strategies. Specifically, more adaptive strategies such as positive refocusing and positive reappraisal were associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms, while less adaptive strategies like rumination and catastrophizing were linked to more symptoms. The study highlights the importance of cognitive coping strategies in mental health and suggests that interventions should focus on promoting adaptive coping strategies to prevent emotional problems.This study introduces the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), a new instrument designed to measure nine cognitive coping strategies used by individuals after experiencing negative life events. The CERQ was developed based on a rational approach, distinguishing between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. The questionnaire was administered to 547 high school students, and its psychometric properties were evaluated using principal component analyses and test-retest reliability. The results showed that the CERQ items were effectively grouped into nine subscales, with alphas exceeding 0.80 for most subscales. The CERQ was found to be a reliable measure of cognitive coping strategies, with good test-retest reliability. The study also explored the relationships between the CERQ subscales and measures of depression and anxiety. The findings indicated that the use of cognitive coping strategies was positively correlated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, but the relationship was moderated by the adaptive nature of the strategies. Specifically, more adaptive strategies such as positive refocusing and positive reappraisal were associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms, while less adaptive strategies like rumination and catastrophizing were linked to more symptoms. The study highlights the importance of cognitive coping strategies in mental health and suggests that interventions should focus on promoting adaptive coping strategies to prevent emotional problems.