Single-Arm Pre-Post Evaluation of a Six-Week Mindset-Integrated Stress Regulation Course Among Postgraduate Students...

To evaluate delivery and short-term pre-post changes associated with a single-arm six-week mindset-integrated stress regulation course for postgraduate students at a Chinese medical university.

This single-arm pre-post evaluation was conducted at Guangzhou Medical University among postgraduate students aged 18-35 years who provided electronic informed consent and completed baseline and immediate post-course assessments. The course comprised six weekly 90-minute face-to-face group sessions integrating emotion and stress awareness, mindset-oriented psychoeducation, mindfulness-based practice, and transfer exercises. Primary outcomes were the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and Chinese Perceived Stress Scale-10 (CPSS-10); secondary outcomes were the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). Pre-post differences were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, with exploratory baseline-adjusted models.

Among 496 complete-case participants, attendance and assignment completion were high (overall attendance, 99.4%; assignment completion, 98.18%). DASS-21 depression, anxiety, and stress scores decreased, and CPSS-10 showed a statistically significant decrease, although the CPSS-10 median was unchanged (15.00 at both time points). Statistically significant pre-post effect sizes were small (r = 0.127-0.269). PHQ-9 scores increased modestly (r = 0.197), GAD-7 did not change significantly, and AIS showed a small statistical difference without a median shift. In adjusted exploratory models, baseline scores were the most consistent predictors, whereas mindset category did not predict any post-intervention outcome.

The course was deliverable in this setting and was associated with mixed short-term changes: selected broad distress measures improved, CPSS-10 and AIS medians were unchanged, and PHQ-9 worsened modestly. These preliminary findings do not establish effectiveness or causal benefit. Controlled studies with follow-up and direct assessment of mindset change are needed.