Psychoendokrinologische Evaluation eines Stressmanagement Trainings im betrieblichen Umfeld einer Betriebskrankenkasse (English shop)

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Theoretical background: To date, occupational health psychology research on stress has repeatedly examined the relationship between work stress and health or well-being (Semmer & Mohr, 2001). A particular role is played by work stress arising from an imbalance between demands and the rewards received (Siegrist, 2006), which can bring about negative consequences such as cardiovascular diseases. The extent to which these negative reactions occur depends on how people deal with stress and how susceptible to stress they are. Studies have shown that cognitive-behavioural stress management trainings (CBSM) are, on the one hand, suitable for imparting adequate stress coping skills and, on the other hand, have positive effects on personal well-being and on the degree of experienced exhaustion and strain. The effects of CBSM have recently been examined not only with regard to psychological variables but increasingly also with regard to endocrinological-physiological variables, and here in particular to cortisol and alpha-amylase reactivity. However, the samples investigated refer predominantly to students or to members of individual occupational groups.

Method: In a field experiment, a cognitive-behavioural stress management training (CBSM) was developed and conducted for the employees of a German company health insurance fund. The psychodiagnostic description of the total sample is presented in the first study of the present work. In the second study, the evaluation with regard to psychological variables was carried out. The data of the three measurement points – immediately before, two weeks and three months after the training – of the experimental and control group were analysed by means of analysis of variance. The evaluation with regard to endocrinological-physiological data is the subject of the third study. For this purpose, an already trained experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) took part in a psychosocial stress test (TSST). The alpha-amylase, cortisol and heart rate values obtained were likewise examined for training effects by means of analysis of variance.

Results: Within the framework of the psychodiagnostic description of the total sample it was shown that work stress correlates positively with overcommitment, perfectionism and vital exhaustion. The regression-analytical results demonstrate that the criterion variable vital exhaustion can be predicted by the predictor variables overcommitment and general life satisfaction, and the criterion variable general life satisfaction in turn by overcommitment, perfectionism and vital exhaustion.

The participants of the CBSM already differed with regard to stress-relevant characteristics before the training. In particular, they were more susceptible to stress and possessed less suitable stress coping skills. It could be demonstrated that, as a result of participating in the training, the EG became less susceptible to stress compared with the CG, more tolerant towards failures, criticism, social conflicts, work strain and uncertainties, as well as more capable of recovery. The degree of overcommitment as well as of vital exhaustion and strain also decreased significantly. Further results are that after the training the EG acquired a less pronounced emotion-oriented coping style, shows a lower resigned attitude towards work and has a clearly improved experience of recovery. Compared with the CG, the EG is better able to switch off, to experience pleasant things more intensively, to regenerate better and to decide more autonomously what to do in its leisure time. The person-specific level of anger as well as the tendency to vent anger towards other persons also increased. Finally, perceived social and emotional support improved through participation in the training.

With regard to the endocrinological-physiological data it was shown that the training has a positive effect on cortisol reactivity and also on alpha-amylase reactivity – provided that the covariates age, BMI and gender are controlled for. Effects on heart rate could not be demonstrated.

Conclusion: In summary, the results demonstrate that, even in an occupational setting with a sample exposed to particular work stress, participation in a CBSM positively influences coping behaviour and susceptibility to stress, and that further effects with regard to improved stress behaviour are achieved. This shows that it makes sense to design a stress management training in such a way that the affective as well as the cognitive and behavioural components are taken into account. Finally, the results concerning the variable susceptibility to stress suggest offering such a training specifically to groups of employees who are particularly susceptible to stress within the framework of company personnel development. The success of the stress management training does not, however, release companies from the obligation to identify any pathogenic framework conditions that may exist and to address them accordingly.