Exploratory Pre-Post Study of School-Based Stress Interventions in Primary School Children

This exploratory, non-randomized pre-post study compares three school-based stress interventions-Yoga, Climbing, and Social-Emotional Learning-in primary school children.

We compared three low-threshold interventions delivered during regular lessons: (1) a six-week video-guided Yoga sequence (n = 64; grade 3), (2) a 2.5-week social-emotional learning (SEL) module focused on emotion recognition and regulation (n = 60; grade 3), and (3) a two-week Climbing program implemented with a small special-education sample (n = 12). Parallel class-matched controls were included for Yoga and SEL (n = 64 and n = 60, respectively). A quasi-experimental pre-post design was used. Primary outcomes were overall stress and the emotion subdomains of anger, anxiety, and sadness (SSKJ 3-8); the secondary outcome for the Climbing pilot was general self-efficacy (SWE). Non-parametric statistics (Wilcoxon signed-rank, Mann-Whitney U) and rank-biserial effect sizes (r) were reported with Holm-adjusted α = 0.05.

Yoga and SEL produced significant within-group reductions in overall stress and all emotional subdomains (all p < 0.001; r = 0.59-0.75) and outperformed their respective controls at post-test (p ≤ 0.038; r = 0.22-0.48). Change-score comparisons between Yoga and SEL were not statistically different (p ≥ 0.44). In the exploratory Climbing group, self-efficacy increased significantly (V = 64.5, p = 0.006, r = 0.80); stress outcomes mirrored Yoga/SEL trends but were under-powered.

A brief classroom Yoga routine and a condensed SEL module each yielded clinically meaningful reductions in stress among primary-school pupils, offering flexible options for post-pandemic recovery. Preliminary evidence suggests that Climbing may enhance self-efficacy in older students with psychological challenges; however, larger samples are required. Integrating cost-effective physical and emotional strategies can help schools promote resilience and well-being amid ongoing educational disruptions.