Wong, Tsz YeungTsz YeungWongDr. YUEN Wing Yan, WinnieWinnieDr. YUEN Wing Yan2026-06-252026-06-252025Wong, T. Y., & Yuen, W. Y. (27 Jun 2025). The impact of self-affirmation exercises on emotional distress among Chinese emerging adults. Positive Psychology 2.0 International Conference 2025 (PP 2.0 2025), Tung Wah College, Hong Kong.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11861/27717Navigating the transitional stage of emerging adulthood often presents significant emotional challenges, particularly in Chinese culture where self-worth is heavily tied to external validation. This study examines the impact of online self-affirmation writing exercises on emotional distress among Chinese emerging adults, a population facing intense academic, work and social pressures. A total of 42 participants, aged 18 to 29, were randomly assigned to either a self-affirmation group or a control group on 1:1 ratio. Participants in the self-affirmation group engaged in 15-minutes writing exercises across 2 time points, within 3 days affirming their core values and positive personal attributes respectively, while the control group completed writing tasks about their least important personal attributes and values.<br> Emotional distress, including aspects of depression, anxiety, and stress, was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) at baseline and post-intervention. Results from an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant interaction effect (F(3,38) = 18.02, p< .001, ηp² = .59), which suggests significant reductions in depression when controlling for baseline depression level for the self-affirmation group compared to the control group For stress, a significant interaction effect (F(1,38) = 6.16, p = .018, ηp² = .14) suggests that selfaffirmation may have a buffering effect, that the stress level increase in the control group was significantly higher than the experimental group. No significant interaction effects were found for anxiety (p>.05). Qualitative responses from the self-affirmation group highlighted positive self-reflection and traits, including honesty ("When a cashier gave me extra change, I returned it immediately"), empathy ("I initiated a conversation to support a colleague who seemed down"), perseverance ("Even after being diagnosed with emotional issues, I did not give up on myself"), and kindness ("I try to understand others’ perspectives and respond with friendliness"). These reflections emphasize the role of self-affirmation in fostering positive self-perception and emotional regulation.<br> The findings from this study highlight the potential of brief online self-affirmation exercises as a culturally sensitive, cost-effective intervention for reducing depression and buffering stress among Chinese emerging adults. Further research is needed to explore its mechanisms and broader implications for emotional well-being.enConference Paper