IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jmerit/v3y2023i4p37-639d1252696.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effectiveness of Digital and Analog Stress Management Interventions within Occupational Health Management in the Public Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Runa Maj Fasthoff

    (Institute of Psychology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Lea Nolte

    (Institute of Psychology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Timo Kortsch

    (Department of Health and Social Work, IU International University, 99084 Erfurt, Germany)

Abstract

Stress increases among the working population in Germany. Workplace stress management interventions are therefore becoming increasingly important, especially in the public sector, which has a higher structural risk for work-related stress than other organizations. Currently, face-to-face formats dominate, but promising digital offerings are being developed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a stress management intervention as a face-to-face and self-guided digital format, referring to the Job Demands-Resources Model. The preregistered study applied a randomized control group design in which N = 65 public service employees were assigned to face-to-face training, an online course, or waitlist control group. Participants completed online questionnaires before the intervention, shortly after the intervention, and six weeks later. Although trends for reductions in emotional exhaustion and perceived stress were evident among the intervention groups, mixed analyses of variance showed no interaction effects between the time and group on the outcomes. The main effects showed a significant decrease in stress levels regardless of the group and significant differences between intervention groups, with the online course reporting the lowest stress level. The results indicate that digital and analog stress management interventions can have desired effects within occupational health management. However, many unpredictable events (e.g., illness, vacation during the intervention) seem to influence the effectiveness in the workplace setting, and so further research is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Runa Maj Fasthoff & Lea Nolte & Timo Kortsch, 2023. "Effectiveness of Digital and Analog Stress Management Interventions within Occupational Health Management in the Public Sector," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jmerit:v:3:y:2023:i:4:p:37-639:d:1252696
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8104/3/4/37/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8104/3/4/37/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Van der Klink, J.J.L. & Blonk, R.W.B. & Schene, A.H. & Van Dijk, F.J.H., 2001. "The benefits of interventions for work-related stress," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 91(2), pages 270-276.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rebecca W. M. Lau & W. H. Mak, 2017. "Effectiveness of Workplace Interventions for Depression in Asia: A Meta-Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(2), pages 21582440177, June.
    2. Elisa Menardo & Donatella Di Marco & Sara Ramos & Margherita Brondino & Alicia Arenas & Patricia Costa & Carlos Vaz de Carvalho & Margherita Pasini, 2022. "Nature and Mindfulness to Cope with Work-Related Stress: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Lipovac Dean & Hajdu László & Wie Sølvi & Nyrud Anders Q., 2020. "Improving Mental Wellbeing in Organizations with Targeted Psychosocial Interventions," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 11(2), pages 86-98, October.
    4. Rodolfo Buselli & Martina Corsi & Antonello Veltri & Riccardo Marino & Fabrizio Caldi & Paolo Del Guerra & Giovanni Guglielmi & Camilla Tanca & Massimo Paoli & Vincenzo Maria Calabretta & Salvio Perre, 2023. "Comparison between Standard Expository Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E) and Immersive Virtual Reality CBT (CBT-VR) for Rehabilitation of Patients Affected by Occupational Stress Disorders: Study P," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-13, May.
    5. Muhammad Asif Qureshi & Kamal bin Ab Hamid, 2017. "Impact of Supervisor Support on Job Satisfaction: A Moderating role of Fairness Perception," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 7(3), pages 235-242, March.
    6. Eva Sahlin & Gunnar Ahlborg & Josefa Vega Matuszczyk & Patrik Grahn, 2014. "Nature-Based Stress Management Course for Individuals at Risk of Adverse Health Effects from Work-Related Stress—Effects on Stress Related Symptoms, Workability and Sick Leave," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-26, June.
    7. Marco De Angelis & Davide Giusino & Karina Nielsen & Emmanuel Aboagye & Marit Christensen & Siw Tone Innstrand & Greta Mazzetti & Machteld van den Heuvel & Roy B.L. Sijbom & Vince Pelzer & Rita Chiesa, 2020. "H-WORK Project: Multilevel Interventions to Promote Mental Health in SMEs and Public Workplaces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-23, October.
    8. Louisa Picco & Qi Yuan & Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar & Sherilyn Chang & Edimansyah Abdin & Hong Choon Chua & Siow Ann Chong & Mythily Subramaniam, 2017. "Positive mental health among health professionals working at a psychiatric hospital," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, June.
    9. Ghorban Hemati Alamdarloo & Soheila Moradzadeh Khorasani & Mahmoud Najafi & Fatemeh Soosan Jabbari & Setareh Shojaee, 2019. "The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels in Iranian Males With Addiction," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440188, January.
    10. Jessica M. Nicklin & Emily J. Meachon & Laurel A. McNall, 2019. "Balancing Work, School, and Personal Life among Graduate Students: a Positive Psychology Approach," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(5), pages 1265-1286, November.
    11. Su-Ying Tsai, 2012. "A Study of the Health-Related Quality of Life and Work-Related Stress of White-Collar Migrant Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
    12. Liana Lentz & Lorraine Smith-MacDonald & David C. Malloy & Gregory S. Anderson & Shadi Beshai & Rosemary Ricciardelli & Suzette Bremault-Phillips & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2022. "A Qualitative Analysis of the Mental Health Training and Educational Needs of Firefighters, Paramedics, and Public Safety Communicators in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-19, June.
    13. Mihyang An & Stephen M Colarelli & Kimberly O'Brien & Melanie E Boyajian, 2016. "Why We Need More Nature at Work: Effects of Natural Elements and Sunlight on Employee Mental Health and Work Attitudes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.
    14. Yanika Gauci & Simon Grima & Yannis Thalassinos & Inna Romanova, 2021. "Training in the Financial Industry: An Effectiveness Study on a Small EU Island State," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 1258-1287.
    15. Andrzej Piotrowski & Ewa Sygit-Kowalkowska & Imaduddin Hamzah, 2020. "Work Engagement among Prison Officers. The Role of Individual and Organizational Factors in the Polish and Indonesian Penitentiary Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, November.
    16. Toshi A Furukawa & Masaru Horikoshi & Norito Kawakami & Masayo Kadota & Megumi Sasaki & Yuki Sekiya & Hiroki Hosogoshi & Masami Kashimura & Kenichi Asano & Hitomi Terashima & Kazunori Iwasa & Minoru N, 2012. "Telephone Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Subthreshold Depression and Presenteeism in Workplace: A Randomized Controlled Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-9, April.
    17. Erik Berglund & Ingrid Anderzén & Åsa Andersén & Lars Carlsson & Catharina Gustavsson & Thorne Wallman & Per Lytsy, 2018. "Multidisciplinary Intervention and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Return-to-Work and Increased Employability among Patients with Mental Illness and/or Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Tria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, October.
    18. Anna S. Gogoleva & Pavel S. Sorokin & Azer G. Efendiev, 2014. "Quality Of Work Life As Methodological Framework In Organizational Studies: State Of The Art And Perspectives For The Future Research," HSE Working papers WP BRP 23/MAN/2014, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    19. Sus Sola Corazon & Patrik Karlsson Nyed & Ulrik Sidenius & Dorthe Varning Poulsen & Ulrika Karlsson Stigsdotter, 2018. "A Long-Term Follow-Up of the Efficacy of Nature-Based Therapy for Adults Suffering from Stress-Related Illnesses on Levels of Healthcare Consumption and Sick-Leave Absence: A Randomized Controlled Tri," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, January.
    20. Kotaro Imamura & Norito Kawakami & Toshi A Furukawa & Yutaka Matsuyama & Akihito Shimazu & Rino Umanodan & Sonoko Kawakami & Kiyoto Kasai, 2014. "Effects of an Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) Program in Manga Format on Improving Subthreshold Depressive Symptoms among Healthy Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-13, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jmerit:v:3:y:2023:i:4:p:37-639:d:1252696. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.