Stress Management in Elementary School Students: a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Authors

  • Katerina Sofianopoulou Postgraduate Course of Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Flora Bacopoulou University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital
  • Dimitrios Vlachakis University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens Lab of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens
  • Ioulia Kokka Postgraduate Course of Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Evaggelos Alexopoulos Postgraduate Course of Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Liza Varvogli Postgraduate Course of Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • George P. Chrousos University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital
  • Christina Darviri Postgraduate Course of Science of Stress and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14806/ej.26.1.976

Keywords:

child, student, stress, school, quality of life, progressive muscular relaxation, intervention, diaphragmatic breathing

Abstract

Research has shown that stress experiences begin in early stages of life. Stress management techniques have appeared to be beneficial for the development or enhancement of stress coping skills. The aim of this pilot randomised controlled trial was to assess the effect of a 12-week intervention, comprising training in diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscular relaxation, on elementary school students’ stress levels. Outcomes on the quality of life and behavioural aspects of the students were also assessed. Standardised questionnaires were administered at baseline and after the 12-week intervention program. Fifty-two children aged 10 to 11 years were randomly assigned to intervention (n=24) and control groups (n=28). Children of the intervention group demonstrated lower levels of stress (in all three subscales of lack of well-being, distress, and lack of social support) and improved aspects of quality of life (physical, emotional, and school functioning). No significant differences were observed regarding the examined behavioural dimensions, in the intervention group. Larger randomised controlled trials with follow-up evaluations are needed to ascertain the positive outcomes of such programs on elementary school children.

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Published

2021-08-23

Issue

Vol. 26: Special issue to Biostatistics and Mathematical Modelling in Bioinformatics

Section

Research Papers

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