Using a mobile app to improve emotional awareness and regulation
Official title: FeelSync: Tailoring Ecological Momentary Assessments and Interventions for Emotion Awareness, Regulation, and Mental Health Outcomes
Run by Erasmus University Rotterdam · NCT06986850 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if using a mobile app to track and reflect on emotions can help people better understand and manage their feelings for improved mental health.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 490 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Erasmus University Rotterdam Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Rotterdam) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 12, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2025 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2025 |
| Registry record updated | May 23, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06986850 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are students aged 18 to 30 who are proficient in English and own a smartphone.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe mental health disorders may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study explores how different methods of reflecting on emotions in daily life can enhance emotional awareness, regulation, and overall mental health. Participants will use the FeelSync mobile app for seven days, reporting their emotional states multiple times a day through various formats. Some participants will also engage in brief daily exercises aimed at cognitive reappraisal, which helps reframe stressful situations. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of these exercises and how the type of emotional self-report influences their impact, with assessments conducted before and after the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve emotional regulation and mental health outcomes for participants.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using mobile applications for emotional regulation, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Owning a smartphone * Proficiency in English language * Being a student * Age between 18 to 30 years old Exclusion Criteria: \- Severe mental health disorder
Where it's running
-
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Rotterdam, Netherlands Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Marta A Marciniak, Dr
- Email: marciniak@essb.eur.nl
- Phone: +31 10 754 5276
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.