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

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Behavioral Medicine
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Stress experiences can begin in early childhood, impacting development.
• Stress management techniques are crucial for developing coping skills.
• Early intervention is key for long-term well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 12-week stress management program on elementary students.
• To assess the effects of diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscular relaxation on stress levels.
• To examine changes in quality of life and behavioral aspects in children.

Main Methods:

• Pilot randomized controlled trial with 52 children aged 10-11 years.
• Intervention group received 12 weeks of diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscular relaxation training.
• Standardized questionnaires assessed stress, quality of life, and behavior at baseline and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significantly lower stress levels across all subscales (well-being, distress, social support).
• Quality of life improved in the intervention group, particularly in physical, emotional, and school functioning.
• No significant changes were observed in behavioral dimensions between groups.

Conclusions:

• Diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscular relaxation show promise for reducing stress in elementary students.
• The intervention positively impacted students' quality of life.
• Larger trials with follow-up are recommended to validate these findings and explore long-term effects.