School program to boost resilience and stress coping in rural middle-school students
Enhancing Stress Resilience and Coping Skills Among Adolescents in Rural China Through School-Based Psychological Interventions: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
This project will test whether a brief, four-session school program can improve stress resilience and reduce depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms in middle-school students in rural China.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 850 (estimated) |
| Ages | 10 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Peking University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hebei, Baoding) |
| Trial ID | NCT07115186 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Middle-school students from a rural school in Hebei are randomly assigned to either a four-session psychological intervention delivered over one week or to a wait-list control. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress are measured with validated scales (PHQ-9, GAD-7, CPSS-5) at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The trial uses multilevel modeling and structural equation modeling to examine changes over time and potential mediators of benefit. The intervention combines psychoeducation and guided written therapy tailored for classroom delivery.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are currently enrolled middle-school students attending regular classes in the participating rural school who can hear, speak, read, and write well enough to join sessions and complete questionnaires.
Not a fit: Students judged to be at high risk of suicide or with severe mental disorders requiring more intensive clinical care are unlikely to benefit from this brief school-based program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could give adolescents practical coping skills that reduce stress-related symptoms and be scaled for use across rural schools.
How similar studies have performed: Similar brief, school-based psychosocial programs have produced modest to moderate reductions in adolescent depression and anxiety in other settings, though evidence specifically from rural Chinese populations is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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
Where this trial is running
Hebei, Baoding
- Biancun middle school — Hebei, Baoding, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Zang Yinyin, PhD
- Email: yinyin.zang@pku.edu.cn
- Phone: +86 15553201610
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.