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Exploring Students' Stress Mindset Using Participatory Action Research

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Title: Exploring Students' Stress Mindset Using Participatory Action Research
Language: English
Authors: Paul C. Mansell (ORCID 0000-0002-3577-4474), Jack Bullock (ORCID 0000-0002-6996-6749)
Source: School Psychology International. 2026 47(3):276-297.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Student Attitudes, Stress Variables, Participatory Research, Action Research, Beliefs, Adjustment (to Environment), Productivity, Student Development, Performance, Mental Health, Well Being, Adolescents, Mentors, Secondary School Students
DOI: 10.1177/01430343261424737
ISSN: 0143-0343
1461-7374
Abstract: Students completing formal examinations will undoubtedly experience a degree of stress and this may influence their wellbeing and performance. Stress mindset, our beliefs about the nature of stress, has been shown to relate to both wellbeing and performance in adolescents. The present study aimed to qualitatively investigate students' stress mindset through the use of Participatory Action Research. Seven students (M[subscript age] = 16.14 years, SD = 0.38) who had completed formal school examinations in the previous academic year were trained to be researchers and contributed to all stages of the project. Under the supervision of the first author, they interviewed eight students (n = 3 females, n = 5 males, M[subscript age] = 15.63 years, SD = 0.52) to elicit information about their stress mindset. Using thematic analysis, results demonstrated that students have more adaptive beliefs about stress in relation to productivity and personal growth, mixed beliefs about stress' impact on their performance, and less favourable perceptions of the influence of stress on their mental health. Teachers, parents and past experiences were found to be key agents in shaping their stress mindset. Recommendations for schools to enhance stress mindset included using older students acting as 'stress mentors'.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507539
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Exploring Students' Stress Mindset Using Participatory Action Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paul+C%2E+Mansell%22">Paul C. Mansell</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3577-4474">0000-0002-3577-4474</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jack+Bullock%22">Jack Bullock</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6996-6749">0000-0002-6996-6749</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22School+Psychology+International%22"><i>School Psychology International</i></searchLink>. 2026 47(3):276-297.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 22
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stress+Variables%22">Stress Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Participatory+Research%22">Participatory Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Action+Research%22">Action Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beliefs%22">Beliefs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adjustment+%28to+Environment%29%22">Adjustment (to Environment)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Productivity%22">Productivity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Development%22">Student Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Performance%22">Performance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mentors%22">Mentors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Students%22">Secondary School Students</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/01430343261424737
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  Data: 0143-0343<br />1461-7374
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Students completing formal examinations will undoubtedly experience a degree of stress and this may influence their wellbeing and performance. Stress mindset, our beliefs about the nature of stress, has been shown to relate to both wellbeing and performance in adolescents. The present study aimed to qualitatively investigate students' stress mindset through the use of Participatory Action Research. Seven students (M[subscript age] = 16.14 years, SD = 0.38) who had completed formal school examinations in the previous academic year were trained to be researchers and contributed to all stages of the project. Under the supervision of the first author, they interviewed eight students (n = 3 females, n = 5 males, M[subscript age] = 15.63 years, SD = 0.52) to elicit information about their stress mindset. Using thematic analysis, results demonstrated that students have more adaptive beliefs about stress in relation to productivity and personal growth, mixed beliefs about stress' impact on their performance, and less favourable perceptions of the influence of stress on their mental health. Teachers, parents and past experiences were found to be key agents in shaping their stress mindset. Recommendations for schools to enhance stress mindset included using older students acting as 'stress mentors'.
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        Value: 10.1177/01430343261424737
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 276
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Stress Variables
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Participatory Research
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      – SubjectFull: Action Research
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      – SubjectFull: Beliefs
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      – SubjectFull: Adjustment (to Environment)
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      – SubjectFull: Productivity
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      – SubjectFull: Student Development
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      – SubjectFull: Performance
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      – SubjectFull: Mental Health
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      – SubjectFull: Well Being
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      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
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      – SubjectFull: Mentors
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      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
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      – TitleFull: Exploring Students' Stress Mindset Using Participatory Action Research
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