Work

Protocol for a mixed-methods pilot study on the feasibility of TABATA training to alleviate moderate to severe psychological stress in Chinese middle school students

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Chinese secondary school students face increasingly complex psychological stress. Traditional interventions for adolescent psychological stress usually focus on psychological counseling or medication. However, the obvious drawbacks are potential side effects, limited attention to the root causes of mental health problems, and the risk of drug dependence. To address this, we developed a 20-min Tabata-style high intensity interval training module for this group. This program is designed to be efficient and time-saving, aiming to alleviate their psychological stress. This study will be executed in two phases: (1) Participants in the intervention group will undergo eight weeks of TABATA training, while those in the control group will not receive any intervention or participate in any interviews. (2) Participants for this phase will be selected from the RCT conducted in phase one. Individual interviews will be conducted with a subset of students who received the intervention, as well as with PE teachers who delivered the training. The results of this study will demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of the TABATA training module we developed among Chinese middle school students experiencing moderate to severe psychological stress. Clinical trial registration: Study Protocol Registration details: China Clinical Trial registration number ChiCTR2500101576.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1684786

Authors: Li Hao, Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin, Mahadir Ahmad, Zhang Ben

Institutions: National University of Malaysia, PLA Army Engineering University

Language: English

Topic: Physical Activity and Health

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801