Worksite stress management: A comparison of programs

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of commonly used approaches to stress management, delivered at worksites. Seventy-six volunteer employees were randomized to a relaxation training group, a multicomponent stress management group, or an education/social support group. Measures were collected at baseline, after the eight-week intervention, and at a three-month follow-up. There were significant reductions in anxiety, depression and hostility, which were maintained in all conditions. No group improved significantly on job satisfaction, work stress, resting BP, or BP reactivity to mental arithmetic or cold pressor stresson. There was no evidence that one group was more effective than the others. Psychological benefits may have been due to nonspecific intervention factors. While decreases in hostility may be a health-related benefit for all groups, it may be unrealistic to expect physiological improvements from clinical stress management programs with nonclinical employee populations.

Key Words:

• Stress management
• blood pressure reactivity
• worksite health promotion
• hostility
• relaxation training