The project involved two groups of seven white 6th grade students (10-11 years old). One
group consisted of only boys and the other group of only girls. The participants were selected for
the group by parent and teacher recommendations that the students may benefit from
participation in a group on stress and anxiety. Participation in the group was voluntary. Students
did not receive any fees, extra credit or any other rewards for participation.
Materials
Participants were given a pre-test to measure stress and anxiety symptoms prior to
participation in the group and the same instrument as a post-test at the conclusion of the group
work. The test is entitled University of Minnesota Adolescent Health Program: Measuring
Emotional Stress (from Blum & Resnick, 1986). The test is used with permission in A Leader’s
Guide to Fighting Invisible Tigers: A Stress Management Guide for Teens by Schmitz and Hipp
(1995). (See Appendix A)
During one session, the group members were also given the Teen Inventory on Common
Stressors and Stress Symptoms (Schmitz & Hipp, 1995) to measure their stress symptoms and
most prevalent stressors in their lives. (See Appendix B)
The ten group sessions were modified from the program outlined in the book Revised &
Updated Fighting Invisible Tigers: A Stress Management Guide for Teens devised by Schmitz
and Hipp (1995). The student researcher condensed the main topics of the twelve outlined
sessions into ten sessions and utilized them as a guide for the group work with the students.
Worksheets and activities in the book were also used to teach students to recognize and deal with
stress and anxiety.