title: Evidence that brief self-affirming implementation intentions can reduce work-related anxiety in downsize survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Workers were recruited from a UK further education college during a period of organizational downsizing. This study assessed the effects of a brief health psychology intervention on work-related stress in downsize survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six employees were randomly allocated to one of two conditions: one in which they were asked to create a work-related self-affirming implementation intention (WS-AII) or a control. Feelings of anxiety and depression were measured before and after the intervention or control task and three weeks later. Job satisfaction, self-efficacy, and self-esteem were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant differences between the WS-AII condition and the control. Workers who created WS-AIIs reported an immediate reduction in anxiety. This reduction was also observed in their appraisal of job-related anxiety three weeks later. There were no significant effects of WS-AIIs on depression, job satisfaction, or self-esteem. There was, however, a significant effect on self-efficacy with workers in the WS-AII condition reporting greater self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that the integration of brief health psychology interventions, such as the WS-AII, into existing organizational practice may be of benefit to the well-being of employees.
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Group , Leeds Beckett University , Leeds , UK.
authors.forename: James I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020415:Personnel Downsizing / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: anxiety; job satisfaction; job-related well-being; mental health; recession