Has the “Double Reduction” policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents
Abstract Purpose “Double Reduction” Policy requires schools to reduce the burden of excessive homework and off-campus training for Chinese students to reduce their academic stress and promote mental health. We conducted a study in compulsory education students before and after the “Double Reduction”...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-022-00530-6 |
| _version_ | 1797985492429438976 |
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| author | Dongfang Wang Xiao-Yan Chen Zijuan Ma Xianchen Liu Fang Fan |
| author_facet | Dongfang Wang Xiao-Yan Chen Zijuan Ma Xianchen Liu Fang Fan |
| author_sort | Dongfang Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose “Double Reduction” Policy requires schools to reduce the burden of excessive homework and off-campus training for Chinese students to reduce their academic stress and promote mental health. We conducted a study in compulsory education students before and after the “Double Reduction” Policy to explore changes in mental health problems and relevant influential factors. Methods A total of 28,398 elementary and junior high school students completed both waves of the survey through electronic questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Heath Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GDA-7). Demographic information was evaluated at baseline, and “Double Reduction” related factors and negative life events were measured at follow up. Results The overall depression and anxiety levels significantly decreased after the “Double Reduction” Policy. Girls, poor parental marital quality, chronic physical illness, and psychiatric family history were related to increased occurrence of mental health. Sleep duration > 8 h/night, reduced homework, more extracurricular activities more time with parents, and reduced academic stress were protective factors against mental health problems. Conclusions The “Double Reduction” Policy has improved the mental health symptoms of students to a certain extent. Appropriately increasing sleep time, participating in more extracurricular activities and parental involvement, and reducing the burden of homework are effective ways to promote the development of students’ mental health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:18:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b13bf031496e473cbc66bea67d1096a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:18:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-b13bf031496e473cbc66bea67d1096a22022-12-22T04:37:51ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002022-11-0116111010.1186/s13034-022-00530-6Has the “Double Reduction” policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescentsDongfang Wang0Xiao-Yan Chen1Zijuan Ma2Xianchen Liu3Fang Fan4Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal UniversityCentre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal UniversityCentre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal UniversityCenter for Public Health Initiatives, University of PennsylvaniaCentre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, School of Psychology, South China Normal UniversityAbstract Purpose “Double Reduction” Policy requires schools to reduce the burden of excessive homework and off-campus training for Chinese students to reduce their academic stress and promote mental health. We conducted a study in compulsory education students before and after the “Double Reduction” Policy to explore changes in mental health problems and relevant influential factors. Methods A total of 28,398 elementary and junior high school students completed both waves of the survey through electronic questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Heath Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GDA-7). Demographic information was evaluated at baseline, and “Double Reduction” related factors and negative life events were measured at follow up. Results The overall depression and anxiety levels significantly decreased after the “Double Reduction” Policy. Girls, poor parental marital quality, chronic physical illness, and psychiatric family history were related to increased occurrence of mental health. Sleep duration > 8 h/night, reduced homework, more extracurricular activities more time with parents, and reduced academic stress were protective factors against mental health problems. Conclusions The “Double Reduction” Policy has improved the mental health symptoms of students to a certain extent. Appropriately increasing sleep time, participating in more extracurricular activities and parental involvement, and reducing the burden of homework are effective ways to promote the development of students’ mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-022-00530-6DepressionAnxietyAdolescents“Double Reduction” policyStress |
| spellingShingle | Dongfang Wang Xiao-Yan Chen Zijuan Ma Xianchen Liu Fang Fan Has the “Double Reduction” policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Depression Anxiety Adolescents “Double Reduction” policy Stress |
| title | Has the “Double Reduction” policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents |
| title_full | Has the “Double Reduction” policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents |
| title_fullStr | Has the “Double Reduction” policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Has the “Double Reduction” policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents |
| title_short | Has the “Double Reduction” policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents |
| title_sort | has the double reduction policy relieved stress a follow up study on chinese adolescents |
| topic | Depression Anxiety Adolescents “Double Reduction” policy Stress |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-022-00530-6 |
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