Emotional regulation among adolescents and young adults in the United Arab Emirates: social, cultural and technological influences.

BACKGROUND Emotional regulation is central to the mental health of adolescents and young adults. Adaptive coping supports resilience, while maladaptive patterns increase vulnerability. Despite its importance, emotional regulation among young people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is underexplored.

AIM To identify common emotional regulation strategies among adolescents and young adults in the UAE and examine the influence of social, cultural and technological factors on their emotional well-being.

METHOD A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 394 adolescents (11-18 years) and young adults (19-20 years) from schools and universities in three UAE emirates. Respondents completed bilingual questionnaires and scenario-based vignettes, incorporating items from validated tools and custom measures. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

RESULTS Most respondents (69-88%) used adaptive coping, although some (12-31%) reported maladaptive responses. Few practised mindfulness (25%) or used digital tools (24%), while 70% reported academic stress, 77% sleep problems, 45% anxiety and 40% sadness. Family support was limited (42%), with peer and school support moderate.

CONCLUSION Culturally relevant, bilingual interventions integrating school programmes, family engagement and digital tools are needed. Consideration is given to the relevance of these findings in the specific context of the UK.