The Effectiveness of the REAL™, a School-based, Virtual Reality-integrated Social Emotional Learning Intervention to Promote Mental Health for Early Malaysian Adolescents

The REAL™ (Read Emotions and Learn to Regulate) module was developed as a school-based social-emotional learning (SEL) intervention designed to help early adolescents in Malaysia enhance their emotional regulation skills and reduce symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Adolescence is a critical stage of emotional development, yet many young individuals struggle with managing their emotions effectively, which can impact their mental well-being and academic performance. While SEL programs have been widely implemented in various countries, culturally adapted interventions tailored to the Malaysian socio-cultural context remain limited. To address this gap, the REAL™ intervention integrates virtual reality (VR) components to enhance engagement and provide students with realistic, immersive experiences to practice emotion regulation strategies.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the REAL™ intervention in improving emotional regulation skills among lower secondary school students in Malaysia. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted from February to November 2023, involving 226 students aged 13-14 years from four secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia. These schools were selected through multistage cluster sampling, and participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which received the REAL™ SEL module, or the control group, which continued with the standard school curriculum.

The intervention consists of multiple sessions focusing on different aspects of SEL, including understanding emotions, identifying emotional triggers, cognitive restructuring, and applying regulation strategies in daily life. To reinforce learning, the intervention incorporates VR simulations that allow students to practice these skills in a controlled, interactive environment. This approach is designed to make SEL strategies more engaging, relatable, and effective for Malaysian adolescents.

Data collection occurs at four time points: baseline (T0), immediate post-test (T1), three-month follow-up (T2), and six-month follow-up (T3). The primary outcome measures include the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) for emotional regulation, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depressive symptoms, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for anxiety symptoms.

Inclusion criteria

• Malaysian citizens who are Form 1 and Form 2 students (ages 13-14).
• Students who provide assent and obtain parental consent to participate.
• Students enrolled in daily government secondary schools in Malaysia.
• Students who can attend all four intervention sessions consecutively.

Exclusion criteria

• Students from boarding-based schools, religious-based schools, or private schools.
• Students with physical impairments that may hinder participation.
• Students with intellectual deficits that may affect comprehension of the intervention.
• Students diagnosed with severe mental illness.
• Students currently receiving professional psychological treatment.