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.
Sedgwick
A W
AW
Institute for Fitness Research and Training, North Adelaide, SA.
Paul
B
B
Plooij
D
D
Davies
M
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001242:Assertiveness; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013850:Thinking