A critical evaluation of the effectiveness of a stress management programme

[摘要] stress management training is costly, yet widely used inindustry with high expectations of the immediate and long-termbenefits to both individual employees and the organisation(Monat & Lazarus( 1991). It has become apparent that, in spiteof the banality of such stress management training, there is asignificant lag in evaluative research to support thesetechniques (Cullen & Sandberg, 1987).The aim of the study was thus to appraise the effectiveness ofa stress management programme in terms of individualpsychological benefits (reduced stress; increased copingcapacity; perceived control) and work attitudes (jobsatisfaction; propensity to leave the organisation). A secondaim of the study was to determine whether, over the course ofthe intervention, there would be any significant differencesin the outcome of the programme, for those demonstratingnegative or positive affective predispositions.Data was collected using a self-report strategy in a fieldsetting, using a short-term longitudinal research design. Thesample consisted of 27 employees participating in a stressmanagement programme. Matched-pair t-tests were generated toevaluate the extent of the impact of participation in thestress management progamme on subjects, from pretest toposttest.The main findings of the study were that the stress managementprogramme intervention yielded only small changes in stress,coping, perceived control, job satisfaction and propensity toleave. Theoretical and practical implications of the findingsare discussed and future directions for research considered.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand