Stress reduction at the worksite: an evaluation of two methods

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychology
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Workplace stress incurs significant annual costs for industries, estimated between $75-$100 billion.
• These costs stem from absenteeism, medical claims, and decreased employee productivity.
• Effective stress management interventions are crucial for improving employee well-being and organizational performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of two distinct worksite stress management programs.
• To compare the impact of the Time-Life Stress Management Program and a Myers-Briggs Personality Type approach on employee strain.
• To determine the duration of stress reduction benefits.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed to assess two stress management interventions.
• Participants (N=148) were divided into two groups: Time-Life Stress Management Program (n=113) and Myers-Briggs Personality Type approach (n=35).
• Standardized strain surveys were administered at baseline and six to eight months post-intervention to measure stress levels.

Main Results:

• Both the Time-Life and Myers-Briggs programs resulted in statistically significant reductions in employee strain scores from baseline.
• The Time-Life program demonstrated greater reductions in strain compared to the Myers-Briggs approach, particularly among participants with higher initial strain levels.
• Follow-up data indicated that stress reduction benefits were sustained for at least six to eight months post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• Worksite stress management programs are effective in reducing employee strain.
• The Time-Life Stress Management Program appears to be a highly effective intervention, especially for highly stressed employees.
• Implementing stress management initiatives at the worksite can yield significant, lasting benefits for employee well-being and potentially reduce associated industry costs.