The Effects of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training Program on Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies, Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance and Interpersonal Skills in College Students

Objectives This study was conducted to help college students with emotional dysregulation difficulties develop cognitive emotion regulation strategies, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills through a dialectical behavior therapy(DBT) training program. Methods To achieve this, the program consisted of a total of five sessions. To verify the program's effectiveness, 85 university students experiencing emotional regulation difficulties at a four-year university in Gyeonggi Province were assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The measurement tools used were the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Scale, the Mindfulness Scale, the Distress Tolerance Scale, and the Interpersonal Skills Scale, and they were assessed at pre-, post-, and follow-up points. Results The analysis results showed that the experimental group participating in the dialectical behavior therapy(DBT) training program showed a decrease in negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies from pre- to post-test, while their mindfulness and interpersonal skills increased from pre- to post-test, verifying the effectiveness of the DBT training program. On the other hand, although positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and distress tolerance levels changed from pre- to post-test, the changes were not statistically significant. Conclusions Based on the above research results, an effective intervention plan was proposed to improve college students' positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, mindfulness, and interpersonal skills, and to reduce negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies and distress tolerance.