title: An effective workplace stress management intervention: Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work Employee Groups.
abstract: Stress is a costly and significant source of health problems and mental distress--with work cited as a primary stressor. This pilot study supports the effectiveness of a new workplace stress intervention: Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work Employee Groups. In this program, employee-participants met during nine weekly meetings to read inspirational workplace stories, comment, and share their own stories. A leader, chosen from and by the group, guided meetings. Utilizing a wait-list control group design, participants were randomly assigned to an experimental or wait-list group. Participants completed pretests and posttests (Coping Resources Inventory, Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised, Job Descriptive Index, Pressure Management Indicator, survey). Statistical interaction effect for subtests was evaluated using a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Participants exhibited improved total coping resources, cognitive/rational coping, state of mind, confidence and home/work balance. Participant comments and their continued participation in a similar company-sponsored program bolster these empirical results.
authors.affiliation: P.O. Box 276, Terrell, TX 75160, USA. poetry@airmail.net
authors.forename: Anne Puidk
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Horan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008091:Literature; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014850:Waiting Lists