Effectiveness and composition of emotional cultivation groups for Taiwanese youth with emotion regulation difficulties

Objective: This study examined (a) the effectiveness of emotional cultivation counseling groups (i.e., BEAR groups) for Taiwanese youth with emotion regulation difficulties and (b) whether group composition (i.e., heterogeneity of friendship approach and avoidance goals) is associated with intervention outcomes. Method: Conducted in real-world school settings, 232 students referred by teachers or counselors were randomized to either 20 BEAR groups or a waitlist control condition. BEAR groups, delivered in a semi-structured group format, integrated Eastern and Western perspectives on emotional cultivation and regulation to support relational development. Latent variables representing Relational Problem-Solving and Closeness to Others were assessed at pretest and at a three-month follow-up. Intervention effects were analyzed using the complex survey module in Mplus 8 (Muthén & Muthén, 2017), accounting for partial nesting. Results: Compared to controls, BEAR participants showed significantly greater improvements in Relational Problem-Solving but not in Closeness to Others. Moreover, among BEAR participants, greater heterogeneity in pretest Friendship-Approach goals was associated with greater change in Relational Problem-Solving. Conclusion: These findings suggest that BEAR groups may represent a promising, culturally grounded intervention for addressing emotional difficulties among Taiwanese youth, and that groups heterogeneous in friendship approach goals may enhance relational outcomes.