Creative Drama-Based Stress Management Program on Stress, Coping, and Emotional Intelligence

The Effect of a Creative Drama-Based Stress Management Program on Stress, Coping, and Emotional Intelligence Levels in Nursing Students

The study was designed with a parallel-group randomized controlled experimental design to determine the effects of a creative drama-based stress management program on the stress, coping, and emotional intelligence levels of nursing students. Nursing students in the experimental group will receive a creative drama-based stress management program for a total of six sessions over three weeks. Students in the active control group will receive three weeks of theoretical training. Students will receive a posttest at the end of the intervention program and a follow-up one month after the intervention.

H0-1: There is no difference between the creative drama and control groups regarding perceived stress level.

H0-2: There is no difference between the creative drama and control groups regarding biopsychosocial response level.

H0-3: There is no difference between the creative drama and control groups regarding stress-coping behaviors.

H0-4: There is no difference between the creative drama and control groups regarding emotional intelligence level.

Nursing students will be assigned to the experimental and control groups using a stratified, simple randomization method within the strata. Gender was taken into account to ensure homogeneity between groups. Students will be divided into two strata based on gender (male and female).

To prevent selection bias, data will be collected by an independent expert, and students will be assigned to the experimental and control groups using a randomization method. Participant numbers will be assigned to students when the preliminary assessment data is transferred to the computer. Student group assignment will be conducted by a biostatistician independent of the study.

To prevent reporting bias, the study data will be analyzed by a biostatistician. Because the interventions will be administered by the researcher, there will be no blinding of the investigator. Participant blinding will be achieved by administering the educational experimental to the control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a nursing student,
• Volunteering to participate in the study,

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having creative drama courses,
• Receiving professional psychological support,
• Having a disease that would prevent participation in the study.
• Participants were also excluded if they did not attend at least two consecutive sessions, or if they were incomplete or did not complete the data collection tools.