Background and Aims: Statistics showed that Hong Kong teachers are experiencing very high levels of occupational stress and many reported depressive symptoms. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a wellness program named Regulating Emotions and Stress in pre-Service Teachers – Hong Kong (RESST-HK).
Participants: The study involved 60 preservice teachers from a major teacher education university in Hong Kong, including 32 in the program group and 28 in the comparison group.
Methods: Participants in the program group received two training sessions (with each being 2.5 hours) and completed surveys consisting standardized measures of coping efficacy and mental health immediately before, immediately after, and one month after the program. The comparison group completed the surveys three times without participating in any sessions. Results were compared between the groups concerning their coping efficacy and mental health.
Results: Program participants had a significantly higher score on copy efficacy than the comparison group, immediately after, and one month after program completion. They also reported greater mental health than the comparison group, immediately after, and one month after the program completion. Program satisfaction was high, with 96.9% of the participants rating the overall program as good or excellent and 100% indicating that they learned a medium amount or a lot in the RESST-HK program.
Conclusion: Results showed high acceptability and great effectiveness of RESST-HK in improving preservice teachers’ mental health and coping efficacy.

Authors:
Hui Wang, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Arita Wing Yan Chan, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Chloe Tsz Nin Leigh, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Naz Böke, McGill University, Canada
Nancy Heath, McGill University, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Wang Hui is an assistant professor at the Education University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on teachers’ motivation, emotions, and rentention, and innovation.

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