Worksite stress management with high-risk maintenance workers: A controlled study

This study evaluated effects of a worksite stress management/health promoti on program with primarily minority blue-collar employees showing a number o f high-risk health behaviors. In a biopsychosocial approach, participants w ere assessed with a standardized health risk appraisal that included physic al and behavioral variables, plus measures of self-control, health attitude s/satisfaction, and other factors. A controlled group design was employed w ith pretreatment, treatment, posttreatment, and three-month follow-up. Part icipants were randomly assigned to a wait-listed control group (n = 26) and a health promotion intervention group (n = 24). The latter received a mult imodal intervention including stress management training, educational works hops and counseling, and a self-directed behavior change program. Following posttreatment assessment, the control subjects were given treatment and th eir data were then added to that of the initial treatment group to comprise a total group of "treatment finishers" (n = 33). The results revealed a nu mber of significant differences between the two groups at posttreatment and /or for the treatment finishers across time (pretreatment vs. posttreatment and/or follow-up), including certain of the physical and behavioral measur es, self-efficacy, and some health attitudes, but no effects for job-relate d measures, such as absenteeism and job satisfaction.