Stages of change for perceived stress in a Swiss population sample: an explorative study

Data from a cross-sectional survey of the Swiss general population were used in an explorative attempt to apply the transtheoretical model of behavioural change to perceived stress.

The sample comprised 575 respondents who reported having experienced stressful situations in the previous month. Other variables assessed included gender, age, education, reported symptoms, and three constructs representing stages and processes of change as well as self-efficacy.

Findings indicated that (1) about one third of respondents appeared to cope successfully with the stressful situations they experienced, one third intended to do so, while one quarter appeared to have no intention of managing their stress more effectively. (2) There was no difference in stage of change distribution by gender or age, while those with higher education were more frequently represented in the latter stages than those with lower education. (3) Those in the maintenance stage reported significantly less symptoms than others.

We conclude that the assessment of readiness to change could be of valuable support in designing stage-specific interventions in the area of stress management.