Colorectal Cancer (CRC)NCT07200388
How Emotional Granularity Helps Build Resilience in Young and Middle-Aged Colorectal Cancer Survivors
An observational study of Colorectal Cancer (CRC), run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 3 sites in China.
Trial summary
This study aims to understand how the ability to identify and describe specific emotions (called "emotional granularity") influences coping and adaptation ("resilience") in young and middle-aged colorectal cancer survivors. The main questions to be answer are: 1. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
- How many people
- 242 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesChina
- Study dates
- 30 Sep 2025to 6 May 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Study population: The study population will consist of samples and data obtained from three major regional tertiary hospitals in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province: 1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University: A leading comprehensive tertiary Grade A hospital and a major clinical, teaching, and research center in the region. 2. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University: Another key comprehensive tertiary Grade A hospital providing high-level medical services to the urban population. 3. Kunshan First People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University: A premier tertiary Grade A hospital representing the high-quality healthcare infrastructure of county-level cities within the Suzhou administrative area. This selection encompasses top-tier medical institutions from both the central urban district of Suzhou and a developed county-level city (Kunshan), ensuring a representative and diverse sample of the patient population and healthcare delivery within the Suzhou region.
Who may be able to join
- Young and middle-aged adult patients (age in the range of 18-60 years);
- Patients diagnosed with CRC;
- Patients have completed primary treatments (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy) without experiencing a recurrence of CRC;
- Patients able to use a smartphone and agree to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- Patients who have not been informed of their cancer diagnosis due to family decision to withhold information;
- Patients suffering from severe conditions that may affect participation or assessment, such as significant cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorders, or communication disorder.
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country.
China3 sites
Kunshan First People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University
Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University
Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000
The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University
Suzhu, Jiangsu, 215000
About this study
Official title: The Role of Emotional Granularity in Enhancing Resilience Among Young and Middle-Aged Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Mixed-Methods Study
This study aims to understand how the ability to identify and describe specific emotions (called "emotional granularity") influences coping and adaptation ("resilience") in young and middle-aged colorectal cancer survivors.
The main questions to be answer are:
Read more
- How does emotional granularity help build resilience during cancer recovery?
- How does emotion regulation contribute to resilience building?
- What specific emotional needs and challenges do survivors experience?
This is an observational study where no experimental treatments are provided. Participants will complete an online questionnaire about background, emotions, ways of managing emotions, and ability to cope with stress. A subset of participants will then be invited to take part in a private, 30-60 minute interview to share personal experiences and feelings in more detail.
Read the detailed description
Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, particularly young and middle-aged adults, frequently experience substantial emotional and psychosocial challenges after treatment completion. Emotional distress, social role disruption, and difficulties in adapting to long-term survivorship may negatively affect resilience and quality of life. Emotional granularity, defined as the ability to identify and differentiate subtle emotional experiences, has been proposed as a potential mechanism that may enhance adaptive emotion regulation and psychological resilience.
This sequential mixed-methods study aims to investigate the relationship between emotional granularity, emotion regulation, and resilience among young and middle-aged CRC survivors, and to explore survivors' emotional experiences and psychosocial support needs to inform future intervention development.
The study consists of two phases. In the first phase, a cross-sectional survey will be conducted among young and middle-aged CRC survivors recruited from teaching hospitals affiliated with Soochow University and Jiangsu University in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. Participants will complete validated Chinese-language questionnaires assessing emotional granularity, emotion regulation difficulties, and resilience. Mediation analysis will be performed to examine whether emotion regulation mediates the association between emotional granularity and resilience.
In the second phase, purposive sampling will be used to recruit participants with varying levels of emotional granularity scores from the quantitative phase. Semi-structured individual interviews will be conducted to explore participants' emotional experiences, coping strategies, emotional support needs, and perceptions regarding emotion-focused interventions. Qualitative findings will be integrated with quantitative results to provide evidence supporting the future development of emotional granularity-based psychosocial interventions for CRC survivors.
- Conditions
- Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
- Keywords
- Emotional Granularity, Psychological Resilience, Mixed Methods Research, Young and Middle-Aged Adults, Colorectal Neoplasms, Emotional Regulation
- Medical subject headings
- Colorectal Neoplasms, Emotional Regulation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Young and Middle-Aged CRC Survivors | This single cohort consists of young and middle-aged adult survivors of colorectal cancer. All participants will complete the quantitative survey phase. A subset of participants, purposively sampled based on their survey scores, will then be invited to participate in the qualitative interview phase. There is no intervention administered; this is an observational study examining the relationships between emotional granularity, emotion regulation, and resilience. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Level of Resilience
Resilience will be measured by the total score on the Chinese version of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). Scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of resilience.
Measured: Baseline (Day 1, at questionnaire completion for each participant)
Secondary outcomes (2)
Emotional Granularity Score
Emotional granularity (the ability to differentiate emotional experiences) will be measured by the total score on the Chinese version of the Range and Differentiation of Emotional Experience Scale (RDEES). The scale contains 11 items, and higher scores indicate a greater ability to differentiate between subtle emotions.
Measured: Baseline (Day 1, at questionnaire completion for each participant)
Emotion Regulation Difficulties Score
Difficulties in emotion regulation will be measured by the total score on the Chinese version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). The scale contains 36 items, and higher scores indicate greater problems with emotion regulation.
Measured: Baseline (Day 1, at questionnaire completion for each participant)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Oct 2025
- Study start30 Sep 2025
- Primary completion6 May 2026
- Study completion6 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Colorectal Cancer (CRC)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 242 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Kunshan First People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr Joyce Chung, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07200388
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HSEARS20250802001
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 12 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: A final decision regarding sharing individual participant data (IPD) has not yet been finalized. This is due to the need for further internal discussions and consultations with all collaborating institutions, particularly regarding compliance with cross-border data transfer regulations under China's Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and ethical guidelines governing participant privacy. Additionally, the feasibility of robust de-identification processes and secure data-sharing mechanisms is being evaluated to ensure participant confidentiality. The final decision will be determined before study completion and will align with journal requirements, participant consent agreements, and institutional policies.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Role of Emotional Granularity in Enhancing Resilience Among Young and Middle-Aged Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Mixed-Methods Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07200388
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HSEARS20250802001
- Conditions
- Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
- Keywords
- Emotional Granularity, Psychological Resilience, Mixed Methods Research, Young and Middle-Aged Adults, Colorectal Neoplasms, Emotional Regulation
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 242 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Kunshan First People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University
- Study start
- 30 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 6 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to understand how the ability to identify and describe specific emotions (called "emotional granularity") influences coping and adaptation ("resilience") in young and middle-aged colorectal cancer survivors.
The main questions to be answer are:
- How does emotional granularity help build resilience during cancer recovery?
- How does emotion regulation contribute to resilience building?
- What specific emotional needs and challenges do survivors experience?
This is an observational study where no experimental treatments are provided. Participants will complete an online questionnaire about background, emotions, ways of managing emotions, and ability to cope with stress. A subset of participants will then be invited to take part in a private, 30-60 minute interview to share personal experiences and feelings in more detail.
Detailed description
Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, particularly young and middle-aged adults, frequently experience substantial emotional and psychosocial challenges after treatment completion. Emotional distress, social role disruption, and difficulties in adapting to long-term survivorship may negatively affect resilience and quality of life. Emotional granularity, defined as the ability to identify and differentiate subtle emotional experiences, has been proposed as a potential mechanism that may enhance adaptive emotion regulation and psychological resilience.
This sequential mixed-methods study aims to investigate the relationship between emotional granularity, emotion regulation, and resilience among young and middle-aged CRC survivors, and to explore survivors' emotional experiences and psychosocial support needs to inform future intervention development.
The study consists of two phases. In the first phase, a cross-sectional survey will be conducted among young and middle-aged CRC survivors recruited from teaching hospitals affiliated with Soochow University and Jiangsu University in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. Participants will complete validated Chinese-language questionnaires assessing emotional granularity, emotion regulation difficulties, and resilience. Mediation analysis will be performed to examine whether emotion regulation mediates the association between emotional granularity and resilience.
In the second phase, purposive sampling will be used to recruit participants with varying levels of emotional granularity scores from the quantitative phase. Semi-structured individual interviews will be conducted to explore participants' emotional experiences, coping strategies, emotional support needs, and perceptions regarding emotion-focused interventions. Qualitative findings will be integrated with quantitative results to provide evidence supporting the future development of emotional granularity-based psychosocial interventions for CRC survivors.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Young and Middle-Aged CRC Survivors | – | –This single cohort consists of young and middle-aged adult survivors of colorectal cancer. All participants will complete the quantitative survey phase. A subset of participants, purposively sampled based on their survey scores, will then be invited to participate in the qualitative interview phase. There is no intervention administered; this is an observational study examining the relationships between emotional granularity, emotion regulation, and resilience. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- The study population will consist of samples and data obtained from three major regional tertiary hospitals in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province: 1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University: A leading comprehensive tertiary Grade A hospital and a major clinical, teaching, and research center in the region. 2. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University: Another key comprehensive tertiary Grade A hospital providing high-level medical services to the urban population. 3. Kunshan First People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University: A premier tertiary Grade A hospital representing the high-quality healthcare infrastructure of county-level cities within the Suzhou administrative area. This selection encompasses top-tier medical institutions from both the central urban district of Suzhou and a developed county-level city (Kunshan), ensuring a representative and diverse sample of the patient population and healthcare delivery within the Suzhou region.
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Young and middle-aged adult patients (age in the range of 18-60 years);
- Patients diagnosed with CRC;
- Patients have completed primary treatments (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy) without experiencing a recurrence of CRC;
- Patients able to use a smartphone and agree to participate in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Patients who have not been informed of their cancer diagnosis due to family decision to withhold information;
- Patients suffering from severe conditions that may affect participation or assessment, such as significant cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorders, or communication disorder.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Level of Resilience
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1, at questionnaire completion for each participant)
Resilience will be measured by the total score on the Chinese version of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10). Scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher levels of resilience.
2 secondary outcomes
Emotional Granularity Score
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1, at questionnaire completion for each participant)
Emotion Regulation Difficulties Score
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1, at questionnaire completion for each participant)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. A final decision regarding sharing individual participant data (IPD) has not yet been finalized. This is due to the need for further internal discussions and consultations with all collaborating institutions, particularly regarding compliance with cross-border data transfer regulations under China's Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and ethical guidelines governing participant privacy. Additionally, the feasibility of robust de-identification processes and secure data-sharing mechanisms is being evaluated to ensure participant confidentiality. The final decision will be determined before study completion and will align with journal requirements, participant consent agreements, and institutional policies.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Colorectal Cancer (CRC), run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 3 sites in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Level of Resilience (time frame: Baseline (Day 1, at questionnaire completion for each participant)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 May 2026.