Effects of culturally responsive stress program on life satisfaction, mindfulness and stress levels

The stress in human life has become undeniable, so that studies on stress have been being carried out for a long time. As the stress arises into different processes and symptoms that vary according to the time and conditions experienced, and as the ways of coping change from individual to another one and from culture to the other cultures, these lead to the execution of different types of studies on stress. This study is an empirical study that examines the effects of a stress reduction program based on culturally responsive and mindfulness fundamentals, on the level of life satisfaction, mindfulness and stress levels of individuals. In the study, pre-test post-test control group pattern which is frequently used in experimental studies was used. In the 2x3 split-plot design, the first factor represents treatment groups (an experiment and a control group); the second factor represents the measures of the dependent variables (pre-test, post-test, follow-up test). There are an independent; and three dependent variables in the research model. The independent variable of the study is the "Culturally Responsive Stress Program" (CRSP); and the dependent variables are life satisfaction, mindfulness and stress levels. Because the study was conducted with an experimental pattern, the "study group" was used in the research rather than the universe and the sampling process. The study group of this research consists of the students getting education in Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Erciş Vocational School, during the academic year of 2017/2018. The "Mindfulness Awareness Scale", "Life Satisfaction Scale" and "Perceived Stress Scale" used in the study were applied to 331 students getting education at Erciş Vocational School. According to the results obtained from the scales, having validity and reliability studies, 40 students with low mindfulness and life satisfaction levels and high stress levels were selected. These students were assigned to the experimental and control groups, randomly. For the experiment group, the techniques in the context of the CRSP were applied for eight sessions. For the control group, any intervention was not applied. Obtained findings showed that the prepared program was effective on the three variables considered in the study. At the mindfulness levels, the pre-test mean of the experimental group was x̄=39,85 while the post-test mean was increased to x̄=76,10. In the follow-up test, the mean of the experimental group's points was found as x̄=72,60. When looking at the means, it can be seen that the levels of mindfulness points of the participants were increased and according to the follow-up test results persistence was going on. These findings show that the program has an effect on mindfulness levels. As a result of literature surveys, these findings were supported. According to life satisfaction points, the mean of the participants' points in the experimental group was x̄=9,95 in pre-test, while the post-test mean was increased to x̄=19,20. For the follow-up test, the mean of the experimental group's points was x̄=18,85. Taking these findings into account, it is possible to say that prepared program increases the life satisfaction points and it supports the permanence of the attitude changes. Finally, when we look at the stress variable, the mean of the experimental group's points in pre-test measures was x̄=23,70; the mean of the post-test was x̄=8,30. In the follow-up test, the mean of the experimental group's points was x̄=8,80. These findings show that the prepared program is effective on the perceived stress scores and reduces the participant's stress levels. It is possible to say that the obtained point reductions were continued according to the follow-up test results. As a result of the analyzes, it was found that mean differences showed significant differences between the groups in terms of three variables. As a result of the findings, it can be revealed that CRSP is effective and permanent on all three variables.