The effects of stress intervention techniques on stress, coping, job satisfaction and couple satisfaction among hospital personnel

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a stress intervention program that offered cognitive and relaxation techniques on level of stress, coping strategies, job satisfaction and couple satisfaction. The subjects were 54 employees of a Veterans Administration hospital in Temple, Texas. This primary female population was composed of nurses, rehabilitation therapists, librarians, unit clerks, engineers and record supervisors. Experimental subjects were those who voluntarily attended a hospital-sponsored, six-hour seminar where they were provided information about stress and intervention techniques. Pretest measures on level of stress, coping style, job satisfaction and couple satisfaction were taken immediately before treatment. Posttest measures were taken three weeks after treatment. Control subjects were recruited from hospital personnel who did not attend the seminar but agreed to complete questionnaires for the study. Questionnaires were filled out at approximately the same time as the experimental group. Research hypotheses were studied using a 2 x 2 groups-by-trials analysis of variance. No significant differences were found between those who attended the seminar and those who did not for any of the dependent variables. Lack of significance may be related to length and format of the seminar, insensitivity of the instruments, self-selection and initial low stress level of participants. Although analyses showed no treatment effects, participants reported that they felt they had benefitted from the seminar. Suggestions for future research include a longer treatment presented in smaller groups with the opportunity for discussion and practice.