Worldwide stress: different problems, similar solutions? Cultural adaptation and evaluation of a standardized stress management program in Hungary.
BACKGROUND
Chronic stress is an important risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality at the individual and societal level.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to describe the process of adapting and testing the effectiveness of a structured stress management skills training program in a culture different from the one in which it was first developed.


METHODS
We translated an internationally used standardized behavioral intervention program into Hungarian and adapted it for use in a Hungarian cultural setting. We evaluated the changes in stress level and stress-related symptom scores among distressed voluntary participants on the basis of self-reported questionnaires completed before, immediately after, and 4 to 6 months after the 12-h intervention. The following measures were included: PSS-10, STAI-T, BDI-S, PHQ-15, and WBI-5. For statistical analyses, paired sample t test and Cohen's d value for effect size were used.


RESULTS
In a sample of 107 distressed individuals, after the training, stress level, psychological and somatic symptoms decreased and well-being increased (p < 0.0001). These positive changes were maintained at follow-up in a subsample of 42 persons tested 4-6 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the long-term positive effects of this standardized behavioral intervention in a different cultural context and in real-world settings, which encourages further dissemination of the program in various community settings.
Stauder
Adrienne
A
Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4. XX. em, 1089, Budapest, Hungary. staadr@net.sote.hu
Konkolÿ Thege
Barna
B
Kovács
Mónika Erika
ME
Balog
Piroska
P
Williams
Virginia P
VP
Williams
Redford B
RB
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome