The Effectiveness of Group Counseling Using Relaxation Techniques in Reducing Learning Stress among First-Year University Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66851/ijcp.v1i3.216Keywords:
Learning stress, Academic stress, Group counseling, Relaxation techniques, University studentsAbstract
This study examined the effectiveness of group counseling using relaxation techniques in reducing learning stress among first-year students in Universitas Negeri Medan, during the 2024/2025 academic year. A quantitative approach with a one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was employed. Ten students from who met the criteria for learning stress were purposively selected. Data were collected using a 34-item learning-stress scale reported as valid and reliable. The intervention was delivered in four sessions, followed by a post-test. Data were analyzed descriptively and using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The mean stress score decreased from 101.70 at pre-test to 88.60 at post-test, representing a 13.10-point or 12.9% reduction. All participants showed lower scores, and the three participants initially classified as having high stress moved to the moderate category. The Wilcoxon test yielded W = 0 with an exact two-sided p-value of .002. The findings indicate that group counseling with relaxation techniques may help first-year students manage learning stress. However, because the design had no control group and the sample was small, the findings should be regarded as preliminary evidence rather than strong causal evidence.
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