Stress Management and Life Satisfaction in University Students (USSMLS)

The Effect of Stress Management Training on Perceived Stress and Life Satisfaction: An Experimental Mediation Analysis

This study aims to examine the effects of a structured psychoeducational program on the psychological well-being of university students. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a psychoeducational group or a control group. The psychoeducational program includes sessions designed to improve stress coping skills. Data will be collected using self-report questionnaires administered after the intervention. The study does not involve any drugs or medical devices and is considered to be of minimal risk. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of effective psychosocial interventions for young adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Coping Skills; Youth Mental Health; Stress Management
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Stress Task; Behavioral: Stress Education

Detailed Description

This study is designed to evaluate the relationship between coping with stress, perceived stress, and life satisfaction within a causal framework using an experimental mediating model. The study examines the effect of structured stress coping training on participants' perceived stress and life satisfaction. Psychoeducation is widely used in mental health settings to improve individuals' understanding of emotions, stress, and coping strategies. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in specific populations is limited. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving a psychoeducation program and performing a stress task, or a control group receiving no intervention and performing a stress task, for the duration of the study. The psychoeducation program will be delivered in a group format and will focus on topics such as emotional awareness, stress management, adaptive coping skills, and problem-solving. Data will be collected using self-report measures following completion of the intervention. The study does not involve any pharmacological treatment or medical devices and is considered to be of minimal risk. The results of this study are expected to shed light on future psychosocial intervention programs.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Merkez
    • Erzincan, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye), 24100
      • Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a university student
• Willingness to participate voluntarily in the study
• Attendance at all sessions throughout the education program
• No prior participation in a similar stress management or stress coping education program

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not being a university student
• Not providing voluntary consent to participate in the study
• Irregular attendance or non-completion of the education sessions
• Previous participation in a similar stress management or stress coping education program

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control Group (No Stress Education, No Stress Task); Participants in this group receive neither stress training nor stress tasks.
Experimental: Stress Task Only (No Stress Education); Participants in this group receive stress-related tasks that do not involve stress training.	Behavioral: Stress Task; A stress task-based intervention that includes structured activities designed to engage participants and encourage active participation.
Experimental: Stress Education Only (No Stress Task); Participants in this group receive stress training without any stressful tasks.	Behavioral: Stress Education; A structured stress training program designed to increase participants' awareness of stress and teach them basic stress management and coping strategies.
Experimental: Stress Education + Stress Task; Participants in this group receive both stress training and the task.	Behavioral: Stress Task; A stress task-based intervention that includes structured activities designed to engage participants and encourage active participation.; Behavioral: Stress Education; A structured stress training program designed to increase participants' awareness of stress and teach them basic stress management and coping strategies.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Life Satisfaction Score (Satisfaction With Life Scale)	Life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) developed by Diener et al. (1985), a validated self-report measure. The scale consists of 5 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale, yielding total scores ranging from 5 to 35. Higher scores indicate greater life satisfaction.	Baseline and 4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Perceived Stress Score (Perceived Stress Scale-14)	Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) developed by Cohen, Kamarck, and Mermelstein (1983), a validated self-report questionnaire designed to measure the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful. The scale consists of 14 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Total scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Seven positively stated items are reverse scored.	Baseline and 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Erzincan Binali Yildirim Universitesi
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: FEYZA KARSLI, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University, Department of Psychology

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 16, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 8, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Psychoeducation; Young adults; Coping skills; Stress management; Youth mental health
• Other Study ID Numbers: Protocol No: 11/03

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared due to ethical and confidentiality considerations, as the study involves sensitive psychological information and participants did not provide consent for data sharing.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No