The current literature has emphasized the prominent impact of stress on the lives adolescents and
the need for counselors to implement stress management and coping progams. The purpose of
this study was to determine whether or not psycho-educational group counseling in the school
relieves stress among adolescent students identified as experiencing excessive stress. This study
also examined gender differences in the severity and types of stress and response to the
counseling intervention. Two separate groups (male and female) of 6-8 sixth grade students
participated in ten weeks of structured group counseling that took place during the school day
and focused on stress and coping. The results indicated that group counseling does indeed reduce
stress among adolescents of both genders, although there were some gender differences in the
character of response. The study also found that there was no major difference in the total
amount of stress symptoms reported by males and females, although there were gender
differences in specific types of stress symptoms reported. Thus, psycho-educational group
counseling conducted in the school setting appears to be a useful intervention for reducing stress
among adolescent students. Male and female students do show some differences in the quality of
stress reported and in the response to counseling.