STRESS REDUCTION TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH COUNSELOR STUDENTS IN A SECONDARY SCHOOL IN BANGKOK

Abstract

               Youth counselor student is an important mechanism within the student support system, particularly concerning mental health. These students require training in their own mental health approaches before they can mentor their friends. The purpose of this research was to study the stress levels of youth counselor students before and after attending the stress reduction training program. This study was experimental research on stress reduction training program for 57 youth counselor students from secondary schools under the jurisdiction of the Bangkok Secondary Educational Service Area Office, Region 1. The research instruments consist of four components: a general information questionnaire for youth counselor students, a stress assessment questionnaire administered before and after participating in the program, a stress reduction training program integrating mindfulness techniques and self-awareness exercises conducted by a psychiatrist over a period of 6 hours, and a satisfaction evaluation questionnaire.

The data obtained from the stress assessment and the questionnaire were statistically analyzed for mean, percentage and standard deviation. The t-test was used to compare pre- and post-programmed stress scores. The results showed that most of the youth counselor students were female, accounting for 64.91%, with an average age of 15.23±1.50 years. The youth counselor students (43.86%) had high stress levels before joining the program. After participating in the stress reduction training program, the level of stress was significantly reduced (p<0.001). Youth counselor students reported a positive effect on self-awareness, stress management skills and the ability to give advice to friends. The results of the study indicated that the stress reduction training program could reduce the stress level of youth counselor students. Therefore, relevant agencies should implement training programs to reduce student stress so that students can manage their own stress.