PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

This study reports the evaluation of a stress prevention program for adolescents of Grades 8 and 9. The program is based on the problem-solving approach and was developed on the basis of several preceding evaluation studies. It consists of eight weekly training sessions with durations of 90 minutes each, and is accompanied by an e-learning platform. Of the 372 adolescents who participated in the study, 182 participated in the program, while 190 were allocated to the control group. Evaluation criteria were related to changes of (a) the knowledge about stress and coping. (b) stress experience, respectively stress Vulnerability, (c) experience of stress symptoms, and (d) self-efficacy. Additional items were related to the evaluation of the training by the participating adolescents. The evaluation took place one week before, one week after, and two months after the training. The results showed clear knowledge and clear self-efficacy improvements and reductions regarding stress symptoms. the training led to positive evaluations by most adolescents. Moreover, there were associations between the training evaluations and the training effects. This was the reason to discuss possible actions to contribute to an increase of the training effects beyond those already apparent in the current evaluation study.