Coping Prompts for Emotion Regulation

(REACT Trial)

This trial explores how college students manage strong emotions, focusing on online reactions, drinking, and emotional eating. Participants wear a wrist device and use an app that occasionally sends supportive messages (momentary coping prompts) when emotions change rapidly. The researchers aim to determine the effectiveness of these messages. This trial suits University of Florida students who regularly use a smartphone and are willing to engage in daily check-ins for about five weeks. As an unphased trial, it offers students the chance to contribute to research that could improve emotional well-being strategies.

Research shows that the coping strategies used in this trial are generally safe. These strategies help participants manage stress and emotions better, enabling them to handle difficult situations without harm. For example, cognitive coping techniques teach individuals to change their perspective on a situation to improve their feelings about it.

Researchers are excited about the "Coping Prompts for Emotion Regulation" trial because it explores innovative ways to help people manage their emotions through timely, personalized messages. Unlike traditional therapy or medication, these prompts are delivered in the moment, providing immediate support when it's needed most. This approach leverages cognitive-behavioral and acceptance-based techniques, potentially offering a more flexible and accessible option for those seeking help with emotion regulation. By focusing on real-time interventions, there's hope that this method could enhance emotional resilience and improve mental well-being more effectively than current options.

This trial will compare the effectiveness of different message types for emotion regulation. Research has shown that short online training sessions can reduce feelings of depression and stress more effectively than other methods. This training teaches positive coping strategies, which are healthy ways to handle stress and emotions. Skills from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), such as changing thought patterns to improve emotional responses, have proven effective for anxiety and negative thoughts. Studies have found that these strategies can alter stress reactions. Overall, these methods hold promise for helping people manage their emotions and improve mental health.¹²⁶⁷⁸