Room to grow

Personalized Well-Being Support for University Students

Room to Grow is an initiative designed to boost the emotional well-being of university students through the ROOM app. Developed using cutting-edge research, ROOM offers personalized, science-based techniques to help manage stress, improve mood, and build emotional resilience.

Want to grow your emotional intelligence (EQ) alongside your IQ? ROOM makes it easy. The app provides daily check-ins and interactive exercises that teach proven strategies from psychologists and therapists. With just 5-10 minutes a day, you can practice self-compassion, enhance mindfulness, and learn relaxation techniques—all while receiving personalized recommendations based on your needs.

Co-Developer

Marilisa Boffo

Danielle Remmerswaal

Camila Villegas Mejia

TAJDA LAURE, ETC.

Design Studio

Ijsfontein, Amsterdam

Institutions

Erasmus university rotterdam

ROOM helps you:

- Manage emotions and handle stress

- Increase positive emotions and self-compassion

- Focus on what matters and improve mindfulness

- Build healthy emotional habits for everyday life

Launched in August 2024, the app is free for all Erasmus University students on iOS and Android.

Studies

We ran empirical and design studies to test various versions and components of ROOM. See below some publications:

Internet Interventions

Laure, T., Boffo, M., Engels, R. C., & Remmerswaal, D. (2024). Effectiveness and uptake of a transdiagnostic emotion regulation mobile intervention among university students: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Internet Interventions, 37, 100750.

SSRN

illegas Mejia, C., Boffo, M., Engels, R. C., & Remmerswaal, D. Transfer of Learning as a Design Rationale for Engagement with Dbcis. Available at SSRN 4889379.

JMIR Research Protocols

Laure, T., Engels, R. C., Remmerswaal, D., Spruijt-Metz, D., Konigorski, S., & Boffo, M. (2023). Optimization of a transdiagnostic mobile emotion regulation intervention for university students: protocol for a microrandomized trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 12(1), e46603.