Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026
07:01
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
8.4K
Effectiveness of a Mobile-Based Self-Regulation Training on Youths' Affect
Anouk Aleva1,2, Annemiek Karreman3, Loes H C Janssen2
1HYPE Centre of Expertise on Early Intervention for Borderline Personality Disorder, GGz Centraal, 3812 GV Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 10, 2026
Summary
A 12-day mobile self-regulation program did not significantly change positive or negative affect in young adolescents. This suggests low-intensity digital interventions may not be sufficient for youth mental health prevention.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Mental Health Prevention
- Digital Health Interventions
Background:
- Youth mental health issues are rising, necessitating population-level prevention strategies.
- Childhood affect (positive and negative) influences adolescent mental health.
- Early adolescent affect management is key for preventive mental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of a mobile-based self-regulation training program.
- To determine if the intervention could improve affect in early adolescents.
- To explore the potential of adapting clinical interventions for scalable prevention.
Main Methods:
- A 12-day mobile-based self-regulation training program based on Behavioral Activation principles.
- Intervention delivered via an innovative digital format to 156 youths (mean age 10.0).
- Analysis focused on changes in positive and negative affect over the intervention period.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in affect change were observed between groups.
- Baseline self-control and emotion regulation strategies did not moderate intervention effects.
- The digital intervention did not yield significant improvements in youth affect.
Conclusions:
- Low-intensity, mobile-based interventions may be insufficient for substantial affect change in youth.
- Findings question the effectiveness of universal prevention via brief digital programs.
- A shift towards selective prevention strategies targeting at-risk youth may be necessary.
Keywords:
affectemotion regulation strategiesmobile-basedpreventionself-controlself-regulation trainingyouthMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Self-Regulation
206
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
206
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.7K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.7K
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.9K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.9K
01:29Self-Efficacy
183
Self-efficacy is the belief in one's capacity to organize and execute actions necessary to manage prospective situations. This belief significantly influences how individuals approach goals, tasks, and challenges across different domains of life.Psychological and Educational ImpactsIndividuals with strong self-efficacy are more resilient in the face of difficulties. They are more likely to adopt effective problem-solving strategies, persist through obstacles, and regulate emotions such as...
183
01:24Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
181
Self-esteem is intricately tied to our perception of competence and our ability to exert control over our lives. One of the primary sources of this perception is performance feedback — the ongoing evaluation of our actions in terms of success and failure. According to Franks and Marolla (1976), people derive self-worth from experiencing themselves as causal agents, capable of achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. This process nurtures a critical component of self-esteem:...
181
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
449
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
449