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Short-Term Effectiveness of a Brief Psychological Intervention on University Students' Stress and Well-Being during Prolonged Exam Preparation: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
- Source :
-
Cogent Education . 2024 11(1). - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Based on the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, this study examined the effectiveness of a brief psychological intervention to reduce study-related stress and enhance well-being. Our three-hour intervention taught students psychological strategies to cope with stress specifically tailored to their study situation. Our sample (N = 56) was comprised of advanced law students who were within a 12-to-18-month period of exam preparation. We applied a randomized controlled trial which included an intervention and an active waitlist control group. Students gave self-reports immediately before and after the intervention, as well as at baseline, one, and two weeks later (post and follow-up). Repeated-measure analyses of variance revealed a significant stress reduction right after the intervention but no significant improvement in well-being. Post-measurement showed a reverse pattern in that the intervention significantly enhanced students' well-being but did not reduce their stress. Intervention effects remained stable at follow-up. The waitlist control group also showed lower levels of stress and higher levels of well-being after receiving the intervention. Overall, the brief intervention showed short-term effectiveness, boosting study-related well-being in particular. These results expand previous findings demonstrating the effectiveness of brief interventions during study periods with chronic stress characteristics.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2331-186X
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- ERIC
- Journal :
- Cogent Education
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- EJ1453897
- Document Type :
- Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2354663