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School-Based Intervention to Enhance Resilience and Stress Coping in Rural Chinese Adolescents

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT07115186

PhaseNA

Enrollment850

SponsorPeking University

Age10 Years

SexALL

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Conditions studied

Stress, Emotional, Stress-related Mental Disorders

About this study

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of school-based psychological interventions in improving stress resilience and coping skills among adolescents in rural China. The intervention seeks to reduce stress-related mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, measured using validated instruments such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), and the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for DSM-5 (CPSS-5). (See Appendix for full scale descriptions.) Participants will be recruited from rural middle schools and randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a wait-list control group. The intervention consists of four sessions delivered over one week. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and again at a 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. Researchers will use multilevel modeling (MLM) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine potential mediators and moderators of intervention effects, including emotion recognition, alexithymia, and coping strategies. indings are expected to provide evidence on the effectiveness and mechanisms of an existing, school-based psychological intervention tailored to the needs of adolescents in underserved rural settings.

Interventions

Behavioral: Psychoeducation — Psychoeducation sessions for adolescents focus on essential topics like stress, emotional distress, and mental disorders, offering foundational knowledge to enhance their understanding and ability to manage these challenges effectively.
Behavioral: guided written therapy — In the guided writing intervention, students are asked to write about a recent event that triggered strong emotions on paper and, based on the requirements of each session, attempt to regulate their emotions. This approach aims to enhance students' abilities in emotional identification and emotion regulation.
Behavioral: wait-list condition — Participants will engage in their regular school activities, and after the intervention group completes the program, they will receive the same intervention content as the intervention group.

Primary outcomes

PTSD for adolescents (baseline, post treatment (2 weeks after baseline), 3 month after post treatment)
Depression (baseline, post treatment (2 weeks after baseline), 3 month after post treatment)
Insomnia Severity (baseline, post treatment (2 weeks after baseline), 3 month after post treatment)
Generalized anxiety disorder (baseline, post treatment (2 weeks after baseline), 3 month after post treatment)
Alexithymia (baseline, post treatment (2 weeks after baseline), 3 month after post treatment)
Emotion awareness (baseline, post treatment (2 weeks after baseline), 3 month after post treatment)

Eligibility information

Inclusion Criteria: * Currently enrolled middle school students attending regular school classes * Sufficient functional capacity in hearing, speaking, reading, and writing to participate in intervention activities and assessments. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals assessed to be at high risk of suicide, based on screening or clinical judgment * Diagnosis of severe mental disorders (e.g., psychotic disorders, severe mood disorders) that would interfere with participation or require more intensive clinical care

Study locations

Biancun middle school, Hebei, Baoding 071603 China

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.