Coping with stress in adolescence: Conceptualization and evaluation of a preventive program

Beyer A, Lohaus A. Stressbewältigung im Jugendalter: Entwicklung und Evaluation eines Präventionsprogramms. Psychologie in Erziehung und Unterricht. 2005;2005(1):33-50.Target of the present study was the development of a stress prevention program for adolescents to be applied in school settings. Stress is already experienced during childhood and adolescence. Therefore it was deemed important that students acquire an appropriate repertoire of efficient coping strategies. Based on a previously conducted demand analysis, a stress prevention and coping program was developed with a basic module that focuses on problem-solving. This basic module can be expanded by three additional modules that emphasize cognitive reconstruction, seeking for social support as well as relaxation and time management. Altogether 461 adolescents of grades 8 and 9 from 18 school classes participated in the program and in the evaluation study consisting of the basic module (problem solving) with one out of the three additional modules. The three training conditions were contrasted to a control group without intervention (339 adolescents from 14 school classes). Significant improvements were found in knowledge, in the subjective evaluation of stress evoking situations, and in coping behaviour. The training effects proved to be stable over at least two months