Follow-up of stress-management courses

A study was made of the effects of stress-management courses on 595 men and women (mean age, 45 +/- 11 years) from one to seven years after they had attended such courses. The course (six 1.5-h sessions) included relaxation training, rational thinking and priority setting and assertiveness training. Evaluation comprised the Paul stress inventory of perceived stress and a questionnaire that dealt with stress and related behaviour and coping skills. The results indicated a substantial reduction in perceived stress immediately after the course which persisted until follow-up; satisfactory persistence in the use of learned coping skills; good reception of the course; and that decreases in perceived stress predicted changes in life-style, a reduced use of stress-related medications and an increased use of relaxation training. Extensive research, including controlled studies, on stress-management courses for Australians is recommended, as a basis for the development of courses which serve the needs of groups that differ in age, health status, occupation, education, and ethnic origin.