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Randomised Controlled Trial of Study Without Stress: A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program to Reduce Stress in Students in the Final Year of High School

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Abstract

Typically students in their final year of school report high levels of anxiety, depression and stress. This study evaluated Study without Stress, a group cognitive behavioural program to reduce student stress. Fifty-six final year students (77% female) from four Australian secondary schools were randomly allocated to Study without Stress delivered by school staff, or to an 8-week usual care condition. Changes in self-reported stress, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, and teacher reported emotional problems were assessed pre to post-treatment using intent-to-treat analyses. Maintenance of changes were examined 3-months later. Compared to usual care, Study without Stress led to significant reductions in self-reported stress and distress, and increases in self-efficacy that were maintained over time, with no significant changes in anxiety, depression or teacher reported emotional problems. Study without Stress is beneficial for reducing academic stress and improving self-efficacy in final year students when delivered in a school setting.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2019, Australia

    Catherine Lowe & Viviana M. Wuthrich

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  1. Catherine Lowe
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  2. Viviana M. Wuthrich
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Correspondence to Viviana M. Wuthrich.

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Lowe, C., Wuthrich, V.M. Randomised Controlled Trial of Study Without Stress: A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Program to Reduce Stress in Students in the Final Year of High School. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 52, 205–216 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-020-01099-x

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