Emotion Self-Management Workshop: A Pilot Intervention in Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Self-management interventions, structured in small groups, help young adolescents to improve the process of self-knowledge, managing emotions, reducing anxiety levels, reducing risk behaviors. Objectives: Implement a pilot intervention in the area of self-management of emotions, empower young adolescents to deal with/manage emotions and promote physical/mental well-being. Methodology: Comparative pilot study between Portugal and Brazil, of the quasi experimental type, reporting to phase I of the project "workshop of self-management of emotions".  Intervention carried out in group, from January to June 2022, in Schools of the Northern Region of Portugal and the State of Rio De Janeiro in Brazil. Students aged 14-18 years attending high school/secondary school. Each workshop was held every two weeks with a duration of 40 minutes, consisting of 15 young people. In the workshops, themes such as: self-management and dealing with emotions, anxiety and risk behaviors were worked, as well as the promotion of physical and mental well-being. Fulfilled all ethical assumptions of the investigation, according to the Helsinki Declaration. Results and discussion: In schools, group work strategies were implemented, such as: use of the body to express emotions, mime, drawing, writing/poetry, music. These strategies allowed adolescents better training to deal with emotions, anxiety and self-knowledge. Final considerations: The intervention presented: listening/communicating, constitutes a model to plan other interventions that aim to help adolescents become self-confident, less anxious, acquire skills in managing emotions, decrease risk behaviors, obtaining the fullness of physical and mental well-being.

Keywords: Self-management; Emotions; Adolescents; Intervention; Training.