Examining the Preliminary Efficacy of An Online Emotion Regulation Intervention for University Students: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Background: More than one third of university students meet diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder, and three quarters experience role impairment in some aspect of their life. One key determinant of whether young adults will experience mental health difficulties is their ability to regulate emotional states. We conducted a pilot trial of an online program designed to teach emotion regulation skills to university students. Methods: We conducted a waitlist controlled trial with 167 students. Pre and post assessment of emotion regulation, psychological distress, and self-compassion were conducted. Results: We observed improvements in emotion regulation skills, and reductions in symptoms of psychological distress. Acceptability and feasibility were also satisfactory. Conclusion: An online emotion regulation program may offer promise in improving emotion regulation and subsequent mental health concerns among university students.