Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Evaluation of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Wrist Wearables to Estimate Stress on Students

Evaluation of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Wrist Wearables to Estimate Stress on Students

Published on: June 16, 2018

LessStress - how to reduce stress in school: evaluation of a universal stress prevention in schools: study protocol

Christin Scheiner^1,2, Andrea Daunke³, Alexandra Seidel^1,2

¹Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

|January 19, 2023

Abstract

Background:

Chronic stress is detrimental to health, and children and young people have had to cope with significantly more stress since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, stress at school and in relation to learning is a major problem in this age group. Studies in Germany have indicated that the pandemic has led to a reduced quality of life (QoL) and an increased risk for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Schools are an ideal setting for interventions against stress, which is one of the strongest predictors for the development of psychosocial problems. The present study seeks to address stress by means of a short prevention training programme in schools, including emotion regulation, mindfulness, and self-compassion. In addition to information material for self-study, students should have the opportunity to actively deal with the topic of stress and develop coping strategies within a short space of time. In contrast to very long stress reduction programmes that often last several weeks, the programme is delivered in just 90 min.

Methods:

The effectiveness of the short and economical prevention programme LessStress will be examined in a cluster-randomised controlled trial (RCT) encompassing 1894 students. At several measurement time points, students from two groups (intervention and control) will be asked about their subjectively perceived stress levels, among other aspects. Due to the clustered nature of the data, mainly multilevel analyses will be performed.

Discussion:

In Germany, there are no nationwide universal prevention programmes for students against stress in schools, and this gap has become more evident since the outbreak of the pandemic. Universal stress prevention in schools may be a starting point to promote resilience. By dealing with stress in a healthy way, mental health can be strengthened and maintained. Moreover, to reach at-risk students at an early stage, we advocate for a stronger networking between child psychiatry and schools.

Trial Registration:

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00025721 . Registered on November 4, 2021.

Keywords:

Emotion regulation Mindfulness Prevention RCT Resilience School Self-compassion Stress Stress reduction

More Related Videos

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

Mindfulness in Motion MIM: An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention MBI for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Mindfulness in Motion MIM: An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention MBI for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Published on: July 1, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I

Stress prevention and management are crucial for maintaining well-being and building resilience. Techniques to manage stress include cultivating qualities like conscientiousness, a sense of personal control, and self-efficacy. Each of these traits significantly reduces stress and promotes healthier lifestyle choices and outcomes.
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III

Regular exercise and meditation serve as essential tools in managing stress and promoting physical and mental well-being.
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the...

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV

Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II

Personality types, particularly Type A and Type B, significantly influence how individuals respond to stress. These personality distinctions are marked by varying levels of ambition, competitiveness, and coping styles, all of which shape an individual's resilience to stressors.
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as...

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V

A social support system is a structured network of personal relationships that provides assistance to individuals facing various challenges, offering a buffer against psychological and physical stressors. This network may consist of family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, or other community members who provide resources and companionship. Social support can take many forms, including advice, emotional comfort, practical help, and companionship. Research indicates that these networks can...

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI

Adopting a healthier lifestyle often requires overcoming significant challenges, but leveraging psychological, social, and cultural resources can facilitate meaningful change. Effective self-change hinges on understanding and applying key tools such as motivation and goal setting, which help sustain efforts toward long-term health benefits.
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Psychometric evaluation of a DSM-5-based semi-structured parent interview for externalizing disorders in preschool children.

PloS one·2026

The Mental Health Literacy and Prevention Survey (mHELP): a brief measure for assessing gatekeepers' mental health literacy in prevention research.

Frontiers in public health·2026

Improvements in sleep, weight, and eating-disorder symptoms following off-label leptin treatment in an adolescent with chronic anorexia nervosa and insomnia: a case report.

Journal of eating disorders·2026

Video-Based Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents: Patient Perspectives on Research Needs and Priorities.

Child psychiatry and human development·2026

Therapeutic drug monitoring in children and adolescents treated with quetiapine for different psychiatric disorders: results of the TDM-VIGIL pharmacovigilance study.

Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)·2026

Dynamics of Fear-Generalization Processes and Their Predictive Value for the Development of Anxiety-Related Psychopathology in Adolescents and Adults: A Study Protocol for a Longitudinal Study.

International journal of methods in psychiatric research·2026

See all related articles