The IESA Program: An Emotional Intelligence Intervention for First-Year Higher Education Students

NCT07659210 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: https://doi.org/10.54499/20232023.04864.BD
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 178
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The IESA Program is an Emotional Intelligence (EI) intervention designed for first-year higher education students. The program is based on an ability-based EI framework and focuses on the development of four core emotional abilities: identifying, understanding, using, and managing emotions. The intervention aims to support students as they transition into higher education and face personal, social, and academic challenges. The IESA Program is delivered in a group format and consists of ten weekly sessions.

Conditions

Mental Health; Emotional Intelligence; Adjustment; Adaptation

Keywords

emotional intelligence; mental health; Higher Education; Undergraduate students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24) Attention Subscale Score

  Emotional attention will be assessed using the Attention subscale of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24). The subscale consists of 8 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ("Strongly disagree") to 5 ("Strongly agree"). Scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater attention to one's emotional states. Very high scores may reflect excessive focus on emotions.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (after the 10-week program)

• Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24) Clarity Subscale Score

  Emotional clarity will be assessed using the Clarity subscale of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24). The subscale consists of 8 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ("Strongly disagree") to 5 ("Strongly agree"). Scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater understanding of one's emotions.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (after the 10-week program).

• Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24) Emotional Repair Subscale Score

  Emotional regulation will be assessed using the Emotional Repair subscale of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 (TMMS-24). The subscale consists of 8 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 ("Strongly disagree") to 5 ("Strongly agree"). Scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater ability to regulate emotional states.

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (after the 10-week program).

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Depression Subscale Score

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (after the 10-week program).

• Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Anxiety Subscale Score

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (after the 10-week program).

• Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Stress Subscale Score

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (after the 10-week program).

• Semester Grade Point Average (GPA)

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the semester following the 10-week program.

• Higher Education Adaptation Questionnaire (QAES) Total Score

  Baseline (pre-intervention) and at the end of the semester following the 10-week program.

Study Arms (2)

IESA Program Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm receive the IESA Program, a structured group intervention designed for first-year higher education students. Sessions include structured group activities and guided reflection exercises that aim to develop four core emotional abilities: identifying, understanding, using, and managing emotions.

Other: IESA Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this arm are placed on a waiting list and do not receive the IESA Program during the study period. They continue with their usual educational activities and may participate in the IESA Program after the study ends. No additional interventions are provided during the waiting period.

Interventions

IESA Program OTHER

The IESA Program is a structured group intervention designed for first-year higher education students. It is based on the ability-based model of emotional intelligence (Mayer \& Salovey, 1997) and focuses on developing four core emotional abilities: identifying, understanding, using, and managing emotions. The program consists of ten weekly sessions, each lasting two hours. Sessions are delivered in a group format and include structured activities, interactive exercises, and guided reflection to engage students in applying emotional intelligence skills in personal, social, and academic contexts. This intervention is distinct from other programs as it specifically targets first-year higher education students during their transition to university, operationalizes the ability-based model of emotional intelligence, and combines skill development with reflective group activities over a fixed ten-week period.

IESA Program Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Enrolled in the first year of higher education for the first time
• Aged between 18 and 25 years
• Willing to participate in the study (intervention or control group)

You may not qualify if:

• Current psychopathological diagnosis
• High frequency of ongoing psychology sessions
• Significant negative life events within the past two weeks
• Additional Notes:

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Portucalense University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Portucalense University

Porto, 4200-072, Portugal

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Officials

• Alexandra M. Araújo, PhD

  Portucalense University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Rosario Cabello, PhD

  University of Malaga

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Fátima M. Teixeira, Master's (Doctoral Student)

  Portucalense University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2026
• First Posted: June 22, 2026
• Study Start: February 17, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 15, 2025
• Study Completion: October 31, 2025
• Last Updated: June 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PT (1)