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Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
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Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

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The impact of a cognitive-behavioral group therapy and executive function training on emotion regulation in children

Maria Alice da Conceição Ferreira1, Maria José Nunes Gadelha2, Melyssa Kellyane Cavalcanti Galdino3

  • 1Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neurosciences, Federal University of Southern Bahia, Teixeira de Freitas, Brazil.

Applied Neuropsychology. Child
|December 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study shows that combining cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with executive function (EF) training improves emotional regulation and cognitive skills in children post-pandemic. This integrated approach offers a promising way to support youth mental health.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted global youth mental health, increasing emotional dysregulation due to cumulative stressors.
  • Children returning to in-person classes faced challenges in emotional and cognitive adjustment.
  • Existing therapeutic approaches may benefit from integrated strategies to address these complex needs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess a combined therapeutic approach using group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and executive function (EF) training.
  • To evaluate the impact of this integrated therapy on executive functions and emotional regulation in children.
  • To explore the relationship between executive functioning improvements and emotional response enhancements.

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 36 children experiencing post-pandemic emotional distress participated.
  • The intervention combined group-based CBT with targeted EF training.
  • Executive functions (working memory, inhibition, flexibility), self-reported emotional responses, and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

  • Children showed significant improvements in working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility.
  • Enhanced emotional regulation, particularly cognitive reappraisal, and increased parasympathetic activity (higher HRV) were observed.
  • Improvements in executive functioning domains, like working memory and flexibility, predicted better emotional responses.

Conclusions:

  • Integrating CBT with EF training is an effective strategy for improving cognitive and emotional regulation in children facing post-pandemic distress.
  • This combined approach shows preliminary potential for enhancing emotional regulation in pediatric populations.
  • Further research with larger samples is recommended to confirm these findings and broaden applicability.

Keywords:
Executive functioncognitive behavioral therapyemotion regulationpost-COVID-19

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