Parenthood poses challenges to emotion regulation (ER), especially during the transition to adolescence, a period of major emotional and social changes. Despite programs for improving emotional skills, access to mental health services is limited. To address these challenges, this study presents the development of a serious game (SG), called EmoBalance, to help parents of young adolescents identify emotions and learn ER strategies based on the Process Model of Emotion Regulation. The game design involved interviews with the target audience and relevant stakeholders. A pilot usability evaluation was conducted with three psychologists and three mothers to assess their experience of and satisfaction with the game. The mothers identified with the topics addressed in the SG. The psychologists recognized the game’s potential for clinical application. Additional mechanics to increase parental engagement are recommended. By helping parents to deal with their own emotions and increase their knowledge of how to model and teach ER processes to their adolescents, it is also expected to contribute to the development of these skills in adolescents.

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A Co-designed Serious Game to Promote Parental Emotion Regulation: Development and Pilot Usability Study

  • Eliana Silva,
  • Mónica Pereira,
  • Luís Paulo Reis

摘要

Parenthood poses challenges to emotion regulation (ER), especially during the transition to adolescence, a period of major emotional and social changes. Despite programs for improving emotional skills, access to mental health services is limited. To address these challenges, this study presents the development of a serious game (SG), called EmoBalance, to help parents of young adolescents identify emotions and learn ER strategies based on the Process Model of Emotion Regulation. The game design involved interviews with the target audience and relevant stakeholders. A pilot usability evaluation was conducted with three psychologists and three mothers to assess their experience of and satisfaction with the game. The mothers identified with the topics addressed in the SG. The psychologists recognized the game’s potential for clinical application. Additional mechanics to increase parental engagement are recommended. By helping parents to deal with their own emotions and increase their knowledge of how to model and teach ER processes to their adolescents, it is also expected to contribute to the development of these skills in adolescents.