Self-regulation can be supported in different ways
Effectiveness of Universal Self-regulation-Based Interventions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Evidence: Review of randomised interventions; task-based and report-based outcomes need to be distinguished.
1What the study found
A review of 49 studies covering 50 interventions and 23,098 participants aged 2–17 found that several approaches can support self-regulation. Programmes and outcome measures differed substantially.
2What question it helps with
Is self-regulation only about willpower, or can relationships, activities and learning environments help?
3Who it is for
Caregivers, educators and readers interested in self-regulation. Actual participants were aged 2–17, across school, community and family programmes.
4How it relates to this stage
The study range is broad; a preschool activity should not automatically be used for a teenager.
5Reading notes
Our summary and paraphrase. Read alongside the source.- Interventions included curricula, family programmes, exercise, and social and personal skills.
- The pooled task-performance effect drew on 19 studies, not all 49; report-based measures were too heterogeneous for the same pooling.
- Longer-term educational and health outcomes were reported by fewer studies.
6How to use this resource
- Use the review to ask what skill an activity supports and how adults help.
- Read age-specific activity guidance alongside the review; choose manageable challenges rather than ranking children’s self-control.
7Limits and things to keep in mind
The review was limited to published English-language studies and many studies were from the US. Heterogeneous measures and programmes limit claims about one best approach or long-term transfer. It is not evidence that a single cognitive game improves everything.
8Sources and check record
Read the abstract and open manuscript’s methods, results, discussion and limitations, including the distinction between the full review and task-score pooling.
Access and use: An author manuscript is available free through PMC. The reviewed programmes may have separate training and licensing requirements.