Effects of a Self-Regulation Counseling Intervention on Ego Depletion Among University Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

The transition to higher education places substantial self-regulatory demands on students, which may contribute to ego depletion. Although self-regulation interventions have been widely discussed, evidence regarding counseling-based approaches specifically designed to reduce ego depletion among university students remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of the Self-Regulation Counseling Approach (SRCA) on ego depletion among university students. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control-group design was used. From a population of 729 students, 30 participants were selected through systematic random sampling and allocated to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Ego depletion was assessed using a 58-item researcher-developed questionnaire. The instrument demonstrated acceptable content validity (CVI = 0.80), satisfactory item validity based on Pearson correlation analysis, and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s ? = 0.955). Posttest differences between groups were examined using analysis of covariance, with pretest scores included as a covariate. After adjustment for baseline scores, the experimental group showed a significantly greater reduction in ego depletion than the control group (p < 0.05). These findings provide preliminary evidence that SRCA may help reduce ego depletion among university students. However, the small sample size and quasi-experimental design limit the generalizability and causal interpretation of the results. Further studies with larger samples, stronger allocation procedures, and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm the intervention’s effects.