Emotional IntelligenceNCT07273786
The Effects of Group Social Work Intervention on Children's Emotional Intelligence, Emotion Regulation Skills and Empathy Tendencies
A study testing group social work practice based on emotion-focused therapy in people with Emotional Intelligence and Emotion Regulation, run by Selcuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The general objective of this study is to determine the effects of an emotion-focused therapy-based group social work intervention on the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency levels of children aged 9-11 years in need of protection and living in a children's home complex, and to… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 9 to 11 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Emotional Intelligence, Emotion Regulation, Empathy Skills
- What is being tested?
- group social work practice based on emotion-focused therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 38 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 5 Mar 2025to 25 Feb 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 9 to 11 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- • Be between 9 and 11 years old
- Be able to read and write
- Have no known traumatic event/abuse history
- Have been accepted to the organization for at least 3 months (have adapted to the organization)
- Have no severe/advanced psychiatric disability/diagnosis
- Have been declared suitable by the group leader
- Be willing to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- • Being outside the 9-11 age range
- Being admitted to the institution less than 3 months ago or not yet having adapted to the institution
- Being a foreign national
- Not knowing Turkish
- Having a history of abuse
- Being hospitalized
- Being a child who left the institution without permission
- Being in the final stages of transfer and return to family
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Ankara Çocuk Evleri Sitesi Müdürlüğü
Ankara, Pursaklar
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Group Social Work Intervention Based on Emotion-Focused Therapy on Emotion Regulation Skills, Emotional Intelligence and Empathic Tendency Levels of Children in Need of Protection
The general objective of this study is to determine the effects of an emotion-focused therapy-based group social work intervention on the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency levels of children aged 9-11 years in need of protection and living in a children's home complex, and to explore the participants' experiences of the group intervention. The independent variable of the study is the emotion-focused therapy-based group social work intervention. The dependent variables are the children's emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency levels.
Within the framework of the stated general objective, the quantitative questions addressed in the study are as follows:
- Is there a significant difference between the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency scores between the experimental and control groups before the intervention?
- Is there a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency of the participants in the experimental group after the intervention?
- After the intervention, is there a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores on emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency of the participants in the control group?
- After the intervention, is there a significant difference between the post-test scores on emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency of the participants in the experimental group and the post-test scores on emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency of the participants in the control group?
Read the detailed description
-Participants in the study completed the Children's Emotion Regulation Scale (CRS), the BarOn Emotional Intelligence Test Child and Adolescent Form and the KA-Si Empathic Tendency Scale Child Form before the study began. Following the 12-session group process, the same scales were completed for both the experimental and control groups, and differences between the experimental and control groups were examined.
Some participants had difficulty reading and understanding the scale items during the pretest and posttest evaluation processes. Both tests were administered one-on-one with the participants, and those who did not understand were read one by one. The quantitative data collected were then entered into SPSS.
- Conditions
- Emotional Intelligence, Emotion Regulation, Empathy Skills
- Being tested
- group social work practice based on emotion-focused therapy
- Keywords
- emotion-focused therapy, group social work, child in need of protection, emotional intelligence, emotion regulation, empathic tendency
- Medical subject headings
- Emotional Regulation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
group social work practice based on emotion-focused therapyBehavioural
Emotion-focused therapy, a therapy approach that prioritizes emotions over others, advocates for increasing emotional intelligence, which refers to using emotions as a developmental tool without being dominated by them (Greenberg, 2004b). Emotion-focused therapy, which places emotions at the center, is a practice that has recently become widespread in our country. It is stated that this approach helps individuals identify/be aware of their emotions, express them, make sense of them, appropriately modify/transform them, and use them in a healthy way; as a result, individuals are more successful in taking control of their lives (Greenberg 2010). From this perspective, it is believed that working with children in need of protection using this approach will be beneficial for the children themselves. The results of this study suggest that it may contribute to introducing an emotion-focused perspective into rehabilitative work with children under protection.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| emotion-focused group social work | Experimental | The group where 12 sessions of emotion-focused group social work were conducted Receives: Behavioral: group social work practice based on emotion-focused therapy |
| no emotion-focused group social work | No intervention | no intervention group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
BarOn Emotional Intelligence Scale Child and Adolescent Form
This is a 60-item scale, with a minimum score of 60 and a maximum of 240. Higher scores indicate better outcomes, as they indicate improved emotional intelligence skills.
Measured: up to 12 weeks after registration
Emotion Regulation Scale for Children
The scale consists of 29 items and four subscales: anger (9 items), fear (8 items), sadness (7 items), and excitement (5 items). The lowest score is 29; the highest is 116. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
Measured: up to 12 weeks after registration
KA-SI Empathic Tendency Scale - Child Form
The scale consists of 13 items. The minimum score is 13, and the maximum score is 52. As the scale scores increase, empathic tendency increases, and as they decrease, empathic tendency decreases.
Measured: up to 12 weeks after registration
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Dec 2025
- Study start5 Mar 2025
- Primary completion6 Nov 2025
- Study completion25 Feb 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Emotional IntelligenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Selcuk 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study employed a mixed method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, to investigate the effects of a group social work intervention based on emotion-focused therapy on the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendencies of children under protection in a children's home. In this context, an exploratory sequential design was used in this study. In this study, the qualitative data were analyzed in line with the quantitative data analysis, and the final conclusion was drawn in the discussion section based on the results of both analyses.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Selcuk University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- aile ve sosyal hizmetler bakanlığı
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, merve özkul, Selcuk University
- Investigators
- Serap D DAŞBAŞ, Prof. Dr., Study director, Selçuk Üniversity
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07273786
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SU-SBT-MÖ-01
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 22 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 10 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: I haven't decided yet
Publications
Tottenham N, Hare TA, Quinn BT, McCarry TW, Nurse M, Gilhooly T, Millner A, Galvan A, Davidson MC, Eigsti IM, Thomas KM, Freed PJ, Booma ES, Gunnar MR, Altemus M, Aronson J, Casey BJ. Prolonged institutional rearing is associated with atypically large amygdala volume and difficulties in emotion regulation. Dev Sci. 2010 Jan 1;13(1):46-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00852.x.
PubMed 20121862Tarren-Sweeney M. The mental health of children in out-of-home care. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;21(4):345-9. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32830321fa.
PubMed 18520738
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Group Social Work Intervention Based on Emotion-Focused Therapy on Emotion Regulation Skills, Emotional Intelligence and Empathic Tendency Levels of Children in Need of Protection
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07273786
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SU-SBT-MÖ-01
- Conditions
- Emotional Intelligence, Emotion Regulation, Empathy Skills
- Keywords
- emotion-focused therapy, group social work, child in need of protection, emotional intelligence, emotion regulation, empathic tendency
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Selcuk UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- aile ve sosyal hizmetler bakanlığı
- Study start
- 5 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 25 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Dec 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.
The general objective of this study is to determine the effects of an emotion-focused therapy-based group social work intervention on the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency levels of children aged 9-11 years in need of protection and living in a children's home complex, and to explore the participants' experiences of the group intervention. The independent variable of the study is the emotion-focused therapy-based group social work intervention. The dependent variables are the children's emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency levels.
Within the framework of the stated general objective, the quantitative questions addressed in the study are as follows:
- Is there a significant difference between the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency scores between the experimental and control groups before the intervention?
- Is there a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency of the participants in the experimental group after the intervention?
- After the intervention, is there a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores on emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency of the participants in the control group?
- After the intervention, is there a significant difference between the post-test scores on emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency of the participants in the experimental group and the post-test scores on emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendency of the participants in the control group?
Detailed description
-Participants in the study completed the Children's Emotion Regulation Scale (CRS), the BarOn Emotional Intelligence Test Child and Adolescent Form and the KA-Si Empathic Tendency Scale Child Form before the study began. Following the 12-session group process, the same scales were completed for both the experimental and control groups, and differences between the experimental and control groups were examined.
Some participants had difficulty reading and understanding the scale items during the pretest and posttest evaluation processes. Both tests were administered one-on-one with the participants, and those who did not understand were read one by one. The quantitative data collected were then entered into SPSS.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study employed a mixed method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, to investigate the effects of a group social work intervention based on emotion-focused therapy on the emotion regulation skills, emotional intelligence, and empathic tendencies of children under protection in a children's home. In this context, an exploratory sequential design was used in this study. In this study, the qualitative data were analyzed in line with the quantitative data analysis, and the final conclusion was drawn in the discussion section based on the results of both analyses.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| emotion-focused group social work | Experimental | Behavioral: group social work practice based on emotion-focused therapyThe group where 12 sessions of emotion-focused group social work were conducted |
| no emotion-focused group social work | No intervention | –no intervention group |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 9 to 11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- • Be between 9 and 11 years old
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- • Being outside the 9-11 age range
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| group social work practice based on emotion-focused therapyEmotion-focused therapy, a therapy approach that prioritizes emotions over others, advocates for increasing emotional intelligence, which refers to using emotions as a developmental tool without being dominated by them (Greenberg, 2004b). Emotion-focused therapy, which places emotions at the center, is a practice that has recently become widespread in our country. It is stated that this approach helps individuals identify/be aware of their emotions, express them, make sense of them, appropriately modify/transform them, and use them in a healthy way; as a result, individuals are more successful in taking control of their lives (Greenberg 2010). From this perspective, it is believed that working with children in need of protection using this approach will be beneficial for the children themselves. The results of this study suggest that it may contribute to introducing an emotion-focused perspective into rehabilitative work with children under protection. | Behavioural | emotion-focused group social work |
Primary outcome
BarOn Emotional Intelligence Scale Child and Adolescent Form
Time frame: up to 12 weeks after registration
This is a 60-item scale, with a minimum score of 60 and a maximum of 240. Higher scores indicate better outcomes, as they indicate improved emotional intelligence skills.
Emotion Regulation Scale for Children
Time frame: up to 12 weeks after registration
The scale consists of 29 items and four subscales: anger (9 items), fear (8 items), sadness (7 items), and excitement (5 items). The lowest score is 29; the highest is 116. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.
KA-SI Empathic Tendency Scale - Child Form
Time frame: up to 12 weeks after registration
The scale consists of 13 items. The minimum score is 13, and the maximum score is 52. As the scale scores increase, empathic tendency increases, and as they decrease, empathic tendency decreases.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Dec 2025.
- Background: PubMed 20121862Tottenham N, Hare TA, Quinn BT, McCarry TW, Nurse M, Gilhooly T, Millner A, Galvan A, Davidson MC, Eigsti IM, Thomas KM, Freed PJ, Booma ES, Gunnar MR, Altemus M, Aronson J, Casey BJ. Prolonged institutional rearing is associated with atypically large amygdala volume and difficulties in emotion regulation. Dev Sci. 2010 Jan 1;13(1):46-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00852.x.
- Background: PubMed 18520738Tarren-Sweeney M. The mental health of children in out-of-home care. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;21(4):345-9. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32830321fa.
- The children's home site where the study was conducted is affiliated with this ministry.Link provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. I haven't decided yet
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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.
Serap D DAŞBAŞ, Prof. Dr. study director
Selçuk Üniversity
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing group social work practice based on emotion-focused therapy in people with Emotional Intelligence and Emotion Regulation, run by Selcuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 7 inclusion and 8 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
BarOn Emotional Intelligence Scale Child and Adolescent Form (time frame: up to 12 weeks after registration). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07273786, which also lists 2 linked publications.
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 10 Dec 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.