Psycho-educatie over stress bij kinderen in groep 7 en 8

This study explores the effectiveness of a school-based psycho-educational program aimed at reducing stress levels among Dutch primary school children in grades 7 and 8. Stress in this age group is a growing concern, especially among girls and those reporting high academic pressure. Although psycho-education is widely promoted as a preventive strategy, evidence for its effectiveness in this context remains limited. A total of 119 children participated in a randomized controlled design, with 108 completing both pre- and post-intervention assessments. The experimental group (N = 55) received three psycho-education lessons focusing on stress awareness, physiological responses, and coping strategies. The control group (N = 53) did not receive any intervention during the study period but followed regular lessons. Stress levels were measured using the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire-short (ASQ-S), while perceived school pressure was assessed with a modified School Burnout Inventory....Show moreThis study explores the effectiveness of a school-based psycho-educational program aimed at reducing stress levels among Dutch primary school children in grades 7 and 8. Stress in this age group is a growing concern, especially among girls and those reporting high academic pressure. Although psycho-education is widely promoted as a preventive strategy, evidence for its effectiveness in this context remains limited. A total of 119 children participated in a randomized controlled design, with 108 completing both pre- and post-intervention assessments. The experimental group (N = 55) received three psycho-education lessons focusing on stress awareness, physiological responses, and coping strategies. The control group (N = 53) did not receive any intervention during the study period but followed regular lessons. Stress levels were measured using the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire-short (ASQ-S), while perceived school pressure was assessed with a modified School Burnout Inventory. Results revealed no significant overall reduction in stress levels following the intervention. Contrary to expectations, children in the experimental group reported slightly higher stress levels at post-test compared to the control group. Girls and children experiencing high school pressure reported higher overall stress, but neither gender nor school pressure moderated the effect of the intervention. These findings suggest that a short-term, general psycho-educational program may not be sufficient to reduce stress in upper primary school children. One explanation could be that increased awareness raised stress perception rather than reducing it. The lack of interaction effects indicates that the program did not affect children with high initial stress differently from those with low stress. In conclusion, psycho-education alone appears insufficient for immediate stress reduction in this age group. Future research should investigate long-term outcomes, tailor content to specific subgroups, and consider integrating psycho-education within broader school-wide strategies that address structural stressors.Show less

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Psycho-educatie over stress bij kinderen in groep 7 en 8