scholarly journals Internet-based and mobile-supported stress management as a universal prevention approach – Effectiveness and moderators from a large pragmatic randomized-controlled trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ebert ◽  
Marvin Franke ◽  
Anna-Carlotta Zarski ◽  
Matthias Berking ◽  
Heleen Riper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Management ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Universal Prevention ◽  
Booster Session ◽  
Intervention Effects ◽  
Prevention Approach

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Emerging evidence indicates the effectiveness of Internet-based mobile supported stress management (iSMIs) in highly stressed employees. It is yet unclear, however, whether iSMIs are also effective without a preselection process in a universal prevention approach which more closely resembles routine occupational health care. Moreover, evidence for whom iSMIs might be suitable and for whom not is scarce. The present study aims to evaluate the iSMI GET.ON Stress without baseline inclusion criteria and examine moderators of intervention effects. Methods: 396 employees were randomly assigned to the intervention condition (IC) or the six-month waiting list control condition (WLC). The iSMI consisted of seven sessions and one booster session with and offered no therapeutic guidance. Self-report data were assessed at baseline, seven weeks, and at six months following randomization. The primary outcome was perceived stress (PSS-10). Several a priori defined moderators were explored as potential effect modifiers. Results: Participants of the IC reported significantly lower perceived stress at post-treatment (d=0.71) and six-month follow-up (d=0.61) compared to the WLC. Significant differences with medium to large effect sizes were found for all mental health and most work-related outcomes. Resilience, agreeableness, psychological strain and self-regulation moderated intervention effects. Discussion: This study indicates that iSMIs can be effective in a broad range of employees with no need for pre-selection to achieve substantial effects. The subgroups that might not profit all had extreme values on the respective measures and represented only a very small proportion of the investigated sample, indicating a broad applicability of GET.ON Stress.

scholarly journals Internet-based stress management for distressed managers: results from a randomised controlled trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Persson Asplund ◽  
Jesper Dagöö ◽  
Ida Fjellström ◽  
Linnea Niemi ◽  
Katja Hansson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Randomised Controlled

ObjectiveThe aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the efficacy of a guided internet-based stress management intervention (iSMI) among distressed managers compared with a attention control group (AC) with full access to treatment-as-usual.MethodA total sample of 117 distressed managers, mainly employed in the healthcare, IT, communication and educational sector, were randomised to either iSMI (n=59) or an AC group (n=58). The iSMI consisted of eight modules including cognitive behavioural stress management and positive management techniques. Participants received a minimal and weekly guidance from a psychologist or master-level psychology student focusing on support, feedback and adherence to the intervention. Self-report data were assessed at pre, post and 6 months after the intervention. The primary outcome was perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-14). The secondary outcomes included mental and work-related health outcomes.ResultsParticipants in the iSMI intervention reported significantly less symptoms of perceived stress (d=0.74, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.19) and burnout (d=0.95, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.37) compared with controls, at postassessment. Significant medium-to-large effect sizes were also found for depression, insomnia and job satisfaction. Long-term effects (6 months) were seen on the mental health outcomes.ConclusionThis is one of the first studies showing that iSMIs can be an effective, accessible and potentially time-effective approach of reducing stress and other mental-related and work-related health symptoms among distressed managers. Future studies are needed addressing distressed managers and the potential of indirect effects on employee stress and satisfaction at work.

scholarly journals Effects of a Digital Mental Health Program on Perceived Stress in Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliane M Boucher ◽  
Haley E Ward ◽  
Julia L Stafford ◽  
Acacia C Parks
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Health Program ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Health Program ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
School Based ◽  
Management Techniques

BACKGROUND Stress is an important transdiagnostic risk factor in adolescence and predicts a host of physical and psychological problems in adolescence and adulthood. Adolescence is also a developmental stage in which people may be more sensitive or reactive to stress. Indeed, research has shown that adolescents report high levels of stress, particularly when enrolled in school. However, adolescents report engaging in few, if any, stress management techniques. Consequently, the development of effective programs to help address adolescent stress is particularly important. To date, most stress management programs for adolescents are delivered within schools, and the evidence for such programs is mixed. Furthermore, most of these programs rely on traditional stress management techniques rather than incorporating methods to address the underlying negative cognitive processes, such as rumination, that may contribute to or exacerbate the effects of perceived stress. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to test the short-term effects of a digital mental health program designed for adolescents aged 13-17 years on perceived stress and rumination. METHODS This is a randomized controlled trial in which adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 years, with elevated levels of perceived stress and brooding, will be randomly assigned to complete 8 weeks of a digital mental health program (Happify for Teens) or to a corresponding wait-list control group. The study will take place over 3 months, including the 8-week intervention period and 1-month postintervention follow-up. The primary outcome, perceived stress, along with secondary and exploratory outcomes (ie, brooding, optimism, sleep disturbance, and loneliness) will be assessed via self-report at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks to compare changes in these outcomes across conditions. RESULTS Recruitment is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2021, with a target sample size of 800 participants (400 per condition). Participants will begin the study as they are recruited and will finish in waves, with the first wave of data expected 8 weeks after recruitment begins and the final wave of data expected by the end of the third quarter of 2021. CONCLUSIONS Although school-based stress management programs for adolescents are common, research suggests that they may be limited in their reach and more effective for school-based stress than other types of stress. This trial will be one of the first attempts to examine the potential benefits of a digital mental health program on adolescents to address stress along with negative cognitive processes such as rumination. If successful, this would help introduce a more scalable alternative to school-based programs that offers adolescents greater privacy while also providing insight into novel ways to target adolescent mental health more generally. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04567888; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04567888 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/25545

Evaluation of My Stress Control, a web-based stress management program for persons experiencing work-related stress: A randomized controlled trial (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Eklund ◽  
Anne Söderlund ◽  
Magnus L Elfström
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Wait List ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Stress Control ◽  
Randomized Controlled

BACKGROUND Stress is one of the most common reasons for sick leave. Web-based interventions have the potential to reach an unlimited number of users at a low cost and have been shown effective at addressing several health-related problems. To handle stress on an individual level is about behavior change. To support behavior change in stress management My Stress Control (MSC) was developed. The development of MSC was based on several health psychology theories and models but central in the development was Social Cognitive Theory, Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behavior, Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping and the Transtheoretical Model and Stages of Change. MSC is a fully automated program. The program is tailored to the user's specific need for stress management and behavior change. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the extent to which MSC affected perceived stress in persons experiencing work-related stress. METHODS This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with two arms. Study participants were recruited by visiting worksites and workplace meetings. Participants were assigned to intervention or wait list group. Web-based questionnaires were used pre- and post-intervention to collect data. Perceived stress measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) was the primary outcome measurement. Analyses were conducted for both between- and within-group changes. RESULTS A total of 92 participants were included in this study, 48 in intervention group and 44 in waitlist group. Twelve participants in the intervention group and 19 participants in the waitlist group completed the post intervention assessment. There were no significant effects on perceived stress between the intervention and wait list groups or within the groups. A small effect size (dCohen=0.25) was found when comparing mean change over time on the primary outcome measure between the intervention and wait list groups. Additionally, a small effect size was found between pre- and post-intervention assessment within the intervention group (dCohen=0.38) as well as within the wait list group (dCohen=0.25). CONCLUSIONS It is still uncertain what effect My Stress Control (MSC) may have on perceived stress. Because adherence was low in the intervention group, elements or features that facilitate adherence must be further developed before firmer conclusions of the effect of MSC can be studied. CLINICALTRIAL This RCT was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, protocol record 2015/0646.

scholarly journals A Complementary Intervention to Promote Wellbeing and Stress Management for Early Career Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6320
Author(s):  
Stevie-Jae Hepburn ◽  
Annemaree Carroll ◽  
Louise McCuaig-Holcroft
Keyword(s):  
Stress Management ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Early Career Teachers ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Career Teachers

The educational climate and culture in our schools present a variety of environmental (contextual) factors that influence teacher wellbeing, job satisfaction, and work-related stress. The magnitude of contextual factors cannot be ignored, and directing attention towards the environment teachers face daily is essential. Primary (organisational)-level interventions are documented in organisational health and wellbeing literature; however, to provide teachers with stress management strategies for promoting wellbeing, attention must also be directed towards secondary (individual)-level interventions. The present study addressed the issue of stress management techniques for early career teachers (n = 24) and aimed to contribute to the research surrounding complementary interventions (CIs) for educators. The intervention was designed to include strategies that operated through cognitive and physiological mechanisms that regulated the stress response and increased awareness of behaviours, emotions, and reactivity. The self-report measures included perceived stress, attention awareness, subjective wellbeing, burnout, and job-related affective wellbeing. The results indicated a statistically significant decrease in perceived stress and increases in attention awareness and subjective wellbeing. The salivary cortisol levels (waking and resting) decreased from baseline to week 6, and the pre- and post-session salivary cortisol levels indicated an immediate decrease in cortisol for weeks 4 to 6.

scholarly journals A Biofeedback-Assisted Stress Management Program for Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a Randomised Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. e980
Author(s):  
Konstantina Exarchopoulou ◽  
Anna Papageorgiou ◽  
Flora Bacopoulou ◽  
Elli Koumantarou Malisiova ◽  
Dimitrios Vlachakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects the functionality and quality of life of the affected persons. There is a well-established detrimental reciprocal relationship between stress and IBS. In this randomised controlled trial, IBS patients were randomly assigned to an 8-week biofeedback-assisted stress management intervention group (n=24) or a control group (n=22). Psychometric measures were performed at baseline and following intervention to assess perceived stress, health locus of control and depressive symptoms. In patients of the intervention group, perceived stress and symptoms of depression were significantly decreased, while the sense of control over health was increased. The intervention program was beneficial to the health and quality of life of individuals with IBS. Future randomised controlled studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are required to establish the effectiveness of stress-management techniques in functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Psychosocial effects of the relaxation response resiliency program (SMART-3RP) in patients with MGUS and smoldering multiple myeloma: A waitlist controlled randomized clinical trial.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10051-10051 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Denninger ◽  
Jacob P. Laubach ◽  
Andrew Jenho Yee ◽  
Elizabeth O'Donnell ◽  
Eric A. Macklin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Relaxation Response ◽  
Psychosocial Effects ◽  
Smoldering Multiple Myeloma

10051 Background: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) are asymptomatic clonal precursors to multiple myeloma, a hematological malignancy. Because observation is currently the standard of care, a diagnosis of MGUS or SMM can be associated with stress and worry about progression. We evaluated the efficacy of the evidence-based mind-body intervention, the Stress Management and Resiliency Training: Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (SMART-3RP) in reducing distress and stress reactivity in patients with MGUS and SMM. Methods: In participants diagnosed with intermediate or high risk MGUS or SMM, this randomized, waitlist controlled trial (Oct 2013 – Sep 2016) assessed distress (10-point scale) as the primary outcome and perceived stress (PSS-10), stress reactivity (MOCS-A), and mindfulness (FFMQ) as secondary outcomes and hypothesized mediators of distress reduction. We collected self-report measures at enrollment (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3). The immediate treatment arm received the 8-session, 1.5 hour/week SMART-3RP group intervention from T1 to T2 and continued practicing skills from T2 to T3; the waitlist arm received the intervention from T2 to T3. Results: 93 participants (59% women) diagnosed with MGUS (n = 49) or SMM (n = 44) were randomized to immediate treatment (n = 45) or waitlist (n = 48). In an ITT analysis of immediate SMART-3RP vs. waitlist (T1-T2), we found significantly greater improvement in distress (-1.4 vs. -0.3, p = .04) and stress reactivity (0.39 vs. 0.02, p < .001), but not perceived stress (-3.9 vs. -2.2, p = .12) or mindfulness (2.4 vs. -0.1, p = .17). Improvements in stress reactivity were maintained for the immediate treatment group (T2-T3), but only partially for distress. Conclusions: The SMART-3RP, compared to waitlist, reduced distress in participants with intermediate or high-risk MGUS and SMM, with improvements in stress reactivity as a primary mediator of distress reduction. Participants strongly endorsed the intervention’s ability to enhance coping and reduce distress. Clinical trial information: NCT01955395.

scholarly journals Promoting Stress Management and Wellbeing for Teachers, A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stevie-Jae Hepburn ◽  
Annemaree Carroll ◽  
Louise McCuaig
Keyword(s):  
Stress Management ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
T Test ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Brief Cope ◽  
Mindful Attention ◽  
Complementary Intervention ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: Investigate the change in perceived stress, mindful attention awareness, subjective wellbeing and coping for pre-service teachers (PSTs) and the impact of a pilot 6-h Complementary Intervention (CI).Method: Phase One (N = 79) survey at two timepoints. Perceived Stress Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Personal Wellbeing Index and the Brief COPE scale. Phase Two CI pre- and post-program self-report measures (N = 20).Data analysis: Paired-sample and independent sample t-test.Results: The paired-samples t-test confirmed that perceived stress levels (p = 0.082) for PSTs remain elevated across the duration of the academic year. There was not a significant change for the MAAS and sub-scales of the Brief COPE. There was a significant decrease in PWI scores (p = 0.04). The participants in the CI experienced a significant decrease in perceived stress (p = 0.004) pre-program (M = 18.6, SD = 7.04) and post-program (M = 15.55, SD = 6.95), effect size (d = 0.48). Increase in mindful attention awareness (p = 0.019), pre-program (M = 3.49, SD = 0.59) and post-program (M = 3.94, SD = 0.85), effect size (d = −0.57).Conclusion: The findings suggest that perceived stress for PSTs are at above-average levels and a yoga-based CI may provide support for promoting wellbeing and stress management.

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