Table 3.

Comparison of mean scores of perceived stress and illness perception in the intervention and control groups before, immediately, and 1 month after intervention

Variable	Time	Group control		Intervention group		Test statistics	p
		Mean	SD	Mean	SD	t (df) or f(df)
Perceived stress	Before intervention	31.02	5.74	30.83	7.86	t (df)= 0.11(62)	0.91*
	Immediately after intervention	32.06	0.61	28.01	6.97	f (df)= 17.25 (1)	<0.001**
	1 month after intervention	33.75	3.78	23.03	7.79	f (df)= 48.35 (1)	<0.001**
Brief illness perception	Before intervention	45.47	6.95	46.63	15.08	t (df)= 0.39(60)	0.69*
	Immediately after intervention	44.56	2.94	49.41	9.01	f (df)= 9.50 (1)	<0.003**
	1 month after intervention	46	3.80	57.75	11.55	f (df)= 32.61 (1)	<0.001**

*T-test, **ANCOVA. ANCOVA=Analysis of covariance, SD=Standard deviation