Enhancing emotion regulation skills in high-risk adolescents due to the existence of psychopathology in the family: feasibility and uncontrolled pilot study of a group intervention in a naturalistic school setting

Theodorou, Christiana; Karekla, Maria; Panayiotou, Georgia

doi:10.3390/ijerph21060738

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Enhancing emotion regulation skills in high-risk adolescents due to the existence of psychopathology in the family: feasibility and uncontrolled pilot study of a group intervention in a naturalistic school setting
Citation	Theodorou C, Karekla M, Panayiotou G. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024; 21(6): e738.
Copyright	(Copyright © 2024, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
DOI	10.3390/ijerph21060738
PMID	38928984
Abstract	BACKGROUND: Emotion regulation skills form part of many interventions for youth with internalizing and externalizing difficulties. This pilot study examines a prevention program delivered at school to improve adolescents' emotion regulation skills, focusing on those at risk for mental health problems. METHODS: Adolescents 12-18 years old were referred to a six-session group program by their school counselors, based on inclusion criteria related to family sociodemographic and mental health characteristics. Group sessions took place during school hours to facilitate participation and reduce dropout. The intervention targeted emotion regulation skills, drawing from central components of different cognitive behavioral approaches. To assess clinical outcomes, participants answered questionnaires before and after the program, which covered emotion regulation strategies, addictive behaviors, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. The acceptability of the program was also assessed. RESULTS: Emotion regulation skills improved after the program, and there was a significant reduction in internalizing and externalizing problems. The program was evaluated as useful by participants. Counsellors reported satisfaction with the program. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted emotion regulation skills training is a potentially useful transdiagnostic intervention to prevent mental health problems in youth. Bringing the intervention to the school setting and involving counsellors in referring at-risk students can facilitate uptake and reduce dropout. Language: en
Keywords	Humans; Child; Female; Male; Schools; Adolescent; prevention; Pilot Projects; Feasibility Studies; emotion regulation; externalizing; internalizing; school-based intervention; *Emotional Regulation; Mental Disorders/psychology/therapy; socio-emotional skills