Work

EmoWELL: effectiveness of a serious game for emotion regulation in emerging adulthood

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Emerging adulthood represents a critical period for developing emotion regulation skills, as individuals face new roles and responsibilities while often employing maladaptive regulatory strategies. Given the increasing use of technology among emerging adults, this study evaluated emoWELL, a serious game designed to enhance emotion regulation during this developmental stage. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, 114 university students in emerging adulthood (aged 18-25) were assigned to either an experimental group using emoWELL or a control group. Analyses included MANOVA, MANCOVA, hierarchical multiple regression, Reliable Change Index (RCI), moderation, mediation, and qualitative analyses of participants' feedback. Results: = .32), particularly in reducing expressive suppression strategy, emotional rejection, lack of emotional control, and overall emotion dysregulation. Mediation analyses revealed that enhanced emotion regulation indirectly improved self-acceptance and environmental mastery. Moderation analyses indicated that baseline anxiety and depression levels influenced the intervention's effectiveness, with fewer symptom levels associated with better emotional outcomes post-intervention. The game received positive user feedback, particularly regarding its psychoeducational content and emotional awareness components. Discussion: While emoWELL shows promise as a preventive tool for emotion regulation in emerging adults with low emotional symptomatology, its effectiveness may be limited for those with elevated anxiety and depression levels, suggesting its optimal use as a complementary tool under professional supervision or in university settings with appropriate support.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1561418

Authors: Saray Velert-Jiménez, Selene Valero-Moreno, José-Antonio Gil-Gómez, Marián Pérez-Marín, Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla

Institutions: Universitat de València, Universitat Politècnica de València

Language: English

Topic: Educational Games and Gamification

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801