Emotional intelligence intervention to improve mental well-being of adolescents with emotional distress (BEAM): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

The trial targets adolescents aged 14-16 years experiencing emotional distress in public and publicly funded secondary schools in Terrassa, Spain.

• The trial will be conducted during the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Eligible participants will be identified using the short version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS).
• Both public and publicly funded (concerted) secondary schools are included.
• The study focuses specifically on adolescents already experiencing emotional distress rather than the general school population.

The BEAM intervention consists of nine 55-minute group sessions delivered during school hours by a nurse and a physiotherapist, supported by the school's psychopedagogue.

• Sessions focus on emotional regulation, self-esteem, mindfulness, assertiveness and other socio-emotional skills.
• The intervention is described as multicomponent and grounded in emotional intelligence (EI).
• It is delivered by community health professionals (nurse and physiotherapist) rather than teachers or mental health specialists alone.
• Sessions take place during regular school hours to facilitate participation.

The study uses a randomised controlled trial design with assessments at three time points.

• Assessments are conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and 24-week follow-up.
• The primary outcome is mental well-being measured by the WEMWBS.
• Secondary outcomes include emotional intelligence measured by the Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 items (TMMS-24) and resilience measured by the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-32 items (CYRM-32).
• The 24-week follow-up is designed to assess whether intervention effects are sustained over time.

The study protocol anticipates that adolescents in the intervention group will show significantly greater improvements in mental well-being, emotional intelligence and resilience compared with the control group.

• Effects are anticipated to be sustained at the 24-week follow-up.
• The hypothesis covers all three outcome domains: mental well-being, EI, and resilience.
• This represents the anticipated rather than observed findings, as the paper is a study protocol.
• The study is registered as NCT06713460.

The study includes predefined safety procedures for participants identified as at risk, including those with suicidal ideation or abuse situations.

• The study is classified as low-risk.
• Referral pathways to health and social services are established for at-risk participants.
• The study was approved by CEIm Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa (approval number 01-24-1CR-102).
• These safeguards were built into the protocol given the vulnerable population of adolescents with emotional distress.

Schools are identified as a key setting for implementing preventive mental health interventions for adolescents.

• Adolescents experiencing emotional distress are described as being at increased risk of developing mental health problems.
• Emotional distress in adolescents can negatively impact academic performance, social relationships and long-term well-being.
• The school-based approach is framed as promoting emotional and psychological resilience.
• The programme is described as potentially scalable and integrable into educational and public health strategies.

Findings from the trial are planned to be disseminated through multiple channels including peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and plain-language summaries for schools and stakeholders.

• A plain-language summary will be provided directly to schools and stakeholders.
• Dissemination through both academic (peer-reviewed publications, conferences) and non-academic channels is planned.
• This multi-channel dissemination strategy reflects the study's public health orientation.
• The intent is to support potential integration into educational and public health strategies.